Joseph Alessi
Stop to include rehearsal for Carnegie Hall performance
CONWAY–Joseph Alessi, Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic and professor of trombone at the Juilliard School of Music, will hold a performance, master classes and a rehearsal for a Carnegie Hall performance at the University of Central Arkansas during a visit Jan. 28-30.
At 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 in Ida Waldran, Alessi will hold a free concert that will feature him as a soloist, along with him conducting UCA’s Natural Slides Trombone Ensemble and the BearBones Trombone Choir.
The Jan. 30 concert will allow the UCA community to not only hear Alessi’s talent but also witness the growth of the school’s trombone choir, said Justin Cook, assistant professor of trombone at UCA.
“The concert is such a big deal, and it’s very rare,” Cook said. “To have somebody of his caliber come through is rare. For it to be a trombone player this time around is pretty cool. It’s something you want to see.”
On Jan. 29 and Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m., Alessi will lead a master class in Room 120 of the Snow Fine Arts Center. The master classes will be structured like an open lesson: Three UCA trombone students will perform, and Alessi will work with them on techniques relating to rhythm, tone, pitch and more. The classes are free to the public.
“He’s the best trombone player in the world, not only recognized by us, but by critics and other musicians,” said Dr. Ricky Brooks, director of bands at UCA.
While on campus, Alessi will also rehearse with UCA’s Wind Ensemble in preparation for a Carnegie Hall performance April 23, for which Alessi will be the guest soloist. Alessi and the ensemble last performed together at Carnegie Hall in 2003. When the Wind Ensemble received an invitation to return to Carnegie Hall this year, the group invited Alessi to once again serve as guest soloist. The rehearsals will be closed to the public.
Alessi is a soloist, recitalist and chamber music performer who has been a guest soloist with groups such as the New Japan Philharmonic, Seoul Philharmonic, Orchestra of Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, Sicily, and others. He has held master classes across the world and has performed on a Grammy Award-winning record. For more information on Alessi, visit www.slidearea.com.
