SPACE CITY BRASS
EPIC SOUNDSCAPES
presented by SPACE CITY BRASS
FEATURING:
Jens Lindemann
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As the first classical brass soloist to ever receive the Order of Canada, Jens Lindemann is hailed as one of the most celebrated artists in his instrument’s history and was recently named “International Brass Personality of the Year” (Brass Herald). Jens has played both jazz and classical in every major concert venue in the world: from the Philharmonics of New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Moscow and Tokyo to Carnegie Hall and even the Great Wall of China. His career has ranged from appearing internationally as an orchestral soloist, being featured at the 2010 Olympics for an audience of 2 billion people, national anthems at the Rose Bowl and for the San Francisco Giants on Memorial Day, performing at London’s ‘Last Night of the Proms’, recording with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to playing lead trumpet with the renowned Canadian Brass and a solo Command Performance for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Jens has also won major awards ranging from Grammy and Juno nominations to winning the prestigious Echo Klassik in Germany and British Bandsman 2011 Solo CD of the year as well as receiving several honorary doctorates.
Classically trained at the renowned Juilliard School in New York and McGill University in Montreal, Jens’ proven ability to perform as a diverse artist places him at the front of a new generation of musicians. He has performed as soloist and recording artist with classical stars such as Sir Neville Marriner, Sir Angel Romero, Pinchas Zukerman, Doc Severinsen, Charles Dutoit, Gerard Schwarz, Eiji Oue, Bramwell Tovey, Kent Nagano, Lior Shambadal, Boris Brott and Jukka Pekka Saraste. Having recorded for BMG, EMI, CBC and the BBC, Jens is helping to redefine the idea of the concert artist by transcending stylistic genres and the very stereotype of his instrument by performing with “impeccable attacks, agility and amazing smoothness” (The Clarin, Buenos Aires).
A prodigious talent, Jens Lindemann performed as a soloist with orchestras and won accolades at numerous festivals while still in his teens. A prizewinner at numerous jazz and classical competitions including the prestigious ARD in Munich, Jens also placed first, by unanimous juries, at both the Prague and Ellsworth Smith (Florida) International Trumpet Competitions in 1992. Since then, he has performed solos with orchestras including, the London Symphony, Berlin, Philadelphia, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Beijing, Bayersicher Rundfunk, Buenos Aires Chamber, Atlanta, Washington, Seattle, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Montreal, Toronto, National Arts Centre, Vancouver, Warsaw, Mexico City, Costa Rica, Bogota, Welsh Chamber, I Musici de Montreal, St. Louis, and Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center.
Heralded internationally as an outstanding artist, critics have stated: “He played with golden timbre and virtuosic flair” (New York Times)“, “a world-class talent” (Los Angeles Times), “it was one of the most memorable recitals in International Trumpet Guild history” (ITG), “performed brilliantly in the North American premiere of Bernd Alois Zimmermann’s Concerto with the Toronto Symphony” (Toronto Star), and “he gave the virtuoso highlight of the evening with the Montreal Symphony”.
Based in Los Angeles as Professor with High Distinction at UCLA, Jens is also director of the summer brass program at the Banff Centre in Canada. Jens Lindemann is an international Yamaha artist playing exclusively on 24K gold plated instruments.
Gail Williams
Gail Williams is an internationally recognized hornist and brass pedagogue. She has presented concerts, master classes, recitals and lectures throughout North America, as well as in Europe and Asia. Ms. Williams joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in December 1978, and was appointed associate principal horn in 1984, a position she held until her retirement from the orchestra in 1998. She has been a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra and is currently principal horn of the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra. As featured horn soloist, Professor Williams has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, Sinfonia da Camera, New World Symphony Orchestra, the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony, Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, Green Bay Symphony Orchestra and a number of regional orchestras. Professor Williams has also performed in 2004 as principal horn with the Saito Kenin Orchestra with Maestro Ozawa in Matsumoto, Japan. In 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009, she was principal horn with the World Orchestra for Peace (WOP), under Maestro Gergiev, with concerts in London, Berlin, Moscow, Beijing, Budapest, Rotterdam, Brussels, Jerusalem, Krakow, and Stockholm. In the summer of 2010, Professor Williams performed Mahler's 5th symphony with WOP live on the BBC in London and in Salzburg, Austria. Other WOP performances include Abu Dhabi (January 2011), and New York City and Chicago (October 2012).
Professor Williams is dedicated to performing and promotion chamber music. She has performed with the Vermeer Quartet, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York City, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, The Skaneateles Music Festival, Sante Fe Chamber Music Festival and the Olympic Peninsula Chamber Festival. She was the featured artist on a chamber music series in Ottawa, Canada, with the National Arts Orchestra of Canada. She is a founding member of the Chicago Chamber Musicians (CCM), a critically acclaimed chamber music ensemble which has commissioned and performed works for their Millennium concert series and the CCM’s concert series. A recording of all-Mozart works, including the Horn quintet, was nominated for a Grammy in 2006. Professor Williams is also an original member of the Summit Brass, with whom she has made eight recordings. During the 2009-10 season, she had three recording projects comprising commissioned solo and chamber compositions and lesser-known works for horn.
In addition to her recordings with Summit Brass, Professor Williams can be heard on her solo recordings: 20th Century Settings and Deep Remembering, which are available on Summit Records. An additional solo recording has been released by Northwestern University: Goddess Triology, featuring compositions by John McCabe and two works for horn percussion by Charles Taylor and Eric Wilder. In the spring of 2011, Professor Williams released a recording of four commissioned works, available on CD Baby.
Professor Williams has played an active role in commissioning projects and performing contemporary solo works for the horn. In 1995, she premiered Dana Wilson's Deep Remembering and Anthony Plog’s Postcards at the International Horn Society Workshop in Yamagata, Japan. In 1997, she premiered Dana Wilson’s Horn Concerto with the Syracuse Symphony. A year later, Professor Williams performed the Oliver Knussen Horn Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Knussen. She helped commission Yehudi Wyner’s Horn Trio and was involved in the orchestration of Dragons in the Sky by Mark Schultz. Professor Williams premiered another horn and piano work by Dana Wilson, Musings, in 2003 and performed both this work and his concerto at the 2005 International Horn Society Workshop. She performed the U.S. premiere of a Concerto for Horn and Orchestra by Collins Matthews at Northwestern University in June of 2005. In June 2012, Professor Williams premiered a commissioned concerto by James Stephenson at the IHS Symposium in Denton, Texas.
Professor Williams has given master classes and recitals around the world, working with musicians at Juilliard School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, San Francisco Conservatory, the New World Symphony, Eastman School of Music, Boston Conservatory, Rice University, University of Houston, University of Illinois, Sam Houston University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, the NAC Orchestra (Ottawa), and Music Hochschule (Frankfurt, Germany). As a member of Summit Brass, she has been coaching young brass musicians since 1986. Since 1980, Professor Williams has been a featured recitalist and lecturer at the International Horn Society Workshops in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Germany. In 2001, 2005, and 2009, she served as one the judges for the Horn Solo Competition in Porcia, Italy.
Gail Williams has been on the Bienen School faculty since 1989. In May of 2005, she received the Charles Deering McCormick Teaching Professorship. With the award, she has commissioned and performed three new chamber works for horn and mixed instruments by Douglas Hill, Dana Wilson, and Augusta Read Thomas. Professor Williams studied with John Covert at Ithaca College. Her awards from Ithaca College include the Ithaca College’s Young Distinguished Alumni Award and an honorary doctorate of music.
Joseph Alessi
JOSEPH ALESSI Principal Trombone The Gurnee F. and Marjorie L. Hart Chair
Joseph Alessi was appointed Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic in the spring of 1985. He began musical studies in his native California with his father, Joseph Alessi, Sr. As a high school student in San Rafael, California, and was a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony before continuing his musical training at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. Prior to joining the Philharmonic, Mr. Alessi was second trombone of The Philadelphia Orchestra for four seasons, and principal trombone of L’Orchestre symphonique de Montreal for one season. In addition, he has performed as guest principal trombonist with the London Symphony Orchestra in Carnegie Hall led by Pierre Boulez.
Mr. Alessi is an active soloist, recitalist, and chamber music performer. In April 1990 he made his solo debut with the New York Philharmonic, performing Creston’s Fantasy for Trombone, and in 1992 premiered Christopher Rouse’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Trombone Concerto with the Philharmonic, which commissioned the work for its 150th anniversary celebration. His most recent appearance with the Philharmonic as soloist was in world premiere performances of Melinda Wagner's Trombone Concerto in February of 2007.
Mr. Alessi has been a guest soloist with the Lincoln Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Symphony, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Santa Barbara Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, New Japan Philharmonic, Seoul Philharmonic, Orchestra of Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, Sicily, Mannheim National Theater Orchestra, National Symphony of Taiwan, Puerto Rico Symphony, Hague Philharmonic, Helsinki Philharmonic, and the Hartford Symphony. Mr. Alessi has also participated in numerous festivals, including the Festivale Musica di Camera in Protogruaro, Italy; Cabrillo Music Festival; Swiss Brass Week; and Lieksa Brass Week in Finland. He was featured in the 1997 International Trombone Festival in Feldkirch, Austria, and the International Meeting of Brass Instruments in Lille, France. He is a founding member of the Summit Brass ensemble at the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute in Tempe, Arizona. In 2002 Mr. Alessi was awarded an International Trombone Association Award for his contributions to the world of trombone music and trombone playing.
Mr. Alessi is currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School; his students now occupy posts with many major symphony orchestras in the U.S. and internationally. As a clinician for the Edwards Instrument Co., he has also given master classes throughout the world and has toured Europe extensively as a master teacher and recitalist. He has performed as soloist with several leading concert bands, including the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, U.S. Army Band (Pershing's Own), and the U.S. Marine Band (President's Own).
Mr. Alessi’s discography includes many releases on the Summit record label, including the recent Trombonastics, and a disc with New York Philharmonic Principal Trumpet Philip Smith entitled Fandango; he also recorded New York Legends on the Cala label. His live recording of the Rouse Concerto with the New York Philharmonic can be heard on Volume II of the recent release, An American Celebration, on New York Philharmonic Special Editions, the Orchestra’s own recording label. Three new recordings are scheduled for release in 2007: Return to Sorrento, on the Naxos record label, and two recordings on the Summit record label that feature Mr. Alessi with Columbus State University Wind Ensemble and the Imperial Brass Band. In addition, conductor/composer Bramwell Tovey recently recorded a piece written especially for Mr. Alessi, entitled Urban Cabaret with Mr. Alessi as soloist.
Mr. Alessi was invited by the International Trombone Association to record a solo disc of newly composed works, which was distributed to the Association’s membership of 5,000 trombonists in early 1999 and is now available as Beyond the End of the Century through Summit Records. Recently, his recording of George Crumb’s Starchild on the Bridge record label, featuring Mr. Alessi as soloist, won a Grammy Award for 1999–2000. Other recordings featuring Mr. Alessi are with the Canadian Brass (Sony Classical and Philips Records). Further information about Mr. Alessi can be found on his website, www.slidearea.com.
Patrick Sheridan
Patrick Sheridan is one of the most celebrated soloists in his instrument’s history. He has performed more than 3,000 concerts in over 50 countries in venues ranging from the White House to NBA half-time shows to the Hollywood Bowl.
At 20 years of age, Patrick became a member of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. During his military service, he thrilled audiences across the United States with his amazing virtuosity and musicianship as one of the band’s primary soloists. Since then, Patrick has gone on to become an incredibly diverse artist with concert performances transcending stylistic genres and building fans around the world for his instrument, the tuba. He has been featured in television and radio broadcasts on 4 continents including appearances most recently on NBC’s Today Show and NPR’s All Things Considered and Performance Today. Patrick maintains a busy international career with more than 75 concerts annually with orchestras, bands, and chamber ensembles and in recital. At home and abroad, Patrick also performs with the creative collective, The Big Bottom Band.
Beyond his busy performing life, Mr. Sheridan’s commitment to education is extensive. His wind students occupy principal positions in major international ensembles including orchestras in Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Rome, Paris, Madrid, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and many others. In 2001, Patrick founded The Institute for Performance Success. This ‘peak performance’ training institute is dedicated to bringing fresh and innovative learning environments to performers, teachers, executives, athletes and others seeking ‘peak performance’ in their careers. Along with Sam Pilafian, Patrick is the co-author of the world’s best selling breathing method for instrumental improvement, The Breathing Gym. He is also co-author of the GIA publication, Leadership Success, with Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. Mr. Sheridan is currently on the music faculties at Arizona State University and UCLA. In the Phoenix community, Patrick serves as the Music Director of The Salt River Brass and is the conductor of the youth band, Sonic Winds. Patrick also frequently works across the United States as a guest conductor with university bands and orchestras as well as high school and middle school all-state and regional honor bands and orchestras.
Mr. Sheridan also works as a composer and arranger. His music and arrangements have been performed internationally by symphony orchestras, concert bands, marching bands, jazz bands and drum corps. Most recently his music was performed by the US Army Band and at the American Bandmasters Association’s national convention. He also co-composed with Sam Pilafian a new piece for tuba and wind band, The Strait of Hormuz, which he premiered at the 62nd Annual Midwest Clinics in December 2008. Patrick and Sam are also working on a double concerto for Joe Alessi and Wycliffe Gordon to be premiered at the CBDNA National Conference in 2011 by the University of New Mexico’s Wind Symphony with Eric Rombach-Kendall conducting. Patrick’s music, arrangements, CDs, DVDs, and books are published by Focus on Music, GIA Publications, De Haske Music, Mythen Hollanda and Dillon Music Publishing.
Mr. Sheridan has over 20 years experience in the music industry as a design consultant. Instruments influenced by Patrick’s designs are played in hundreds of professional orchestras, military bands and chamber ensembles around the world. Thousands of university, high school, middle school and elementary school students play on instruments in which Patrick has been involved in the design process. He currently works as a design consultant for Jupiter Band Instruments, Inc. Patrick was a part of the design team responsible for Jupiter’s Quantum Marching Project which introduced five new marching brass models in 2008. Ensembles competing in Drum Corps International and Bands of America as well as collegiate marching bands around the United States are using these instruments with great success. He is currently working on a new line of Jupiter professional brass to be introduced in 2009. Patrick is also an Artist and Educational Ambassador for Jupiter.
Patrick is a member of ASCAP, an Honorary Member of Kappa Kappa Psi and a Trustee of The International Music Camp. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in finance and marketing from the University of Michigan and spends his free time with his children, Katie and Jack, hiking and camping in beautiful Arizona.