John Cerminaro
Encyclopedia
John Paul Cerminaro, Jr. (born April 7, 1947) is an American
horn
player who is best known for his principal tenures with two notable American orchestras, the New York Philharmonic
and the Los Angeles Philharmonic
. He was later principal horn of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
Cerminaro was born in Grimes County, Texas
, to John and Frances (Felder) Cerminaro, both public school music educators. He was raised in Dallas
, where he studied horn with Alfred Resch. His solo debut performance came with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
at the age of 16. Following his graduation from Sunset High School in Dallas, Cerminaro studied at the Juilliard School
, where he was awarded an Elsie and Walter W. Naumburg Scholarship
. He was a student at the Aspen Music Festival and is currently permanent principal horn of the Aspen Festival Orchestra.
In 1969 Cerminaro joined the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein
. Other conductors he played under in New York include Erich Leinsdorf
, Zubin Mehta
and Pierre Boulez
. In 1979 he accepted an offer from conductor Carlo Maria Giulini
to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic; he performed there under the baton of André Previn
as well. During Cerminaro's time in Los Angeles, many new compositions were written for him, including works by William Schuman
, William Kraft
, Rand Steiger
, and Henri Lazarof
. His tenure as principal horn in Seattle began in 1996 and ended in 2011. Cerminaro has been guest principal horn with a number of orchestras, including the Dallas Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony
, and Houston Symphony Orchestras.
Cerminaro is a member of the International Horn Society
and has contributed various articles to its periodical, The Horn Call.
He is married to Charlotte Lambert Cerminaro, who is also a professional horn player.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
horn
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
player who is best known for his principal tenures with two notable American orchestras, the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
and the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
. He was later principal horn of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
Cerminaro was born in Grimes County, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, to John and Frances (Felder) Cerminaro, both public school music educators. He was raised in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, where he studied horn with Alfred Resch. His solo debut performance came with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra. It performs its concerts in the Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States....
at the age of 16. Following his graduation from Sunset High School in Dallas, Cerminaro studied at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, where he was awarded an Elsie and Walter W. Naumburg Scholarship
Walter W. Naumburg Foundation
The Walter W. Naumburg Foundation sponsors competitions and provides awards for young classical musicians in North America. It was founded in 1925 by Walter Wehle Naumburg, a wealthy amateur cellist and son of noted New York music patron and philanthropist Elkan Naumburg. Elkan Naumburg, owner of...
. He was a student at the Aspen Music Festival and is currently permanent principal horn of the Aspen Festival Orchestra.
In 1969 Cerminaro joined the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
. Other conductors he played under in New York include Erich Leinsdorf
Erich Leinsdorf
Erich Leinsdorf was a naturalized American Austrian conductor. He performed and recorded with leading orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States and Europe, earning a reputation for exacting standards as well as an acerbic personality...
, Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
and Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
. In 1979 he accepted an offer from conductor Carlo Maria Giulini
Carlo Maria Giulini
Carlo Maria Giulini was an Italian conductor.-Biography:Giulini was born in Barletta, Italy, to a father born in Lombardy and a mother born in Naples; but he was raised in Bolzano, which at the time of his birth was part of Austria...
to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic; he performed there under the baton of André Previn
André Previn
André George Previn, KBE is an American pianist, conductor, and composer. He is considered one of the most versatile musicians in the world, and is the winner of four Academy Awards for his film work and ten Grammy Awards for his recordings. -Early Life:Previn was born in...
as well. During Cerminaro's time in Los Angeles, many new compositions were written for him, including works by William Schuman
William Schuman
William Howard Schuman was an American composer and music administrator.-Life:Born in Manhattan in New York City to Samuel and Rachel Schuman, Schuman was named after the twenty-seventh U.S. president, William Howard Taft, although his family preferred to call him Bill...
, William Kraft
William Kraft
William Kraft is a composer, conductor, teacher, and percussionist.-Undergrad and Graduate School Years :...
, Rand Steiger
Rand Steiger
Rand Steiger is an American composer, conductor, and pedagogue.Steiger became a faculty member at the California Institute of the Arts in 1982, remaining there until 1987...
, and Henri Lazarof
Henri Lazarof
Henri Lazarof is a Bulgarian composer.Born in Sofia, Bulgaria his formal musical training began in Israel under Paul Ben-Haim. After a short stint in Rome, Lazarof settled in the United States, studying with Harold Shapero and Arthur Berger at Brandeis University...
. His tenure as principal horn in Seattle began in 1996 and ended in 2011. Cerminaro has been guest principal horn with a number of orchestras, including the Dallas Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its primary performing venue is the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts...
, and Houston Symphony Orchestras.
Cerminaro is a member of the International Horn Society
International Horn Society
The International Horn Society is the primary international organization dedicated to players of the horn. It was founded in June 1970.It holds a symposium each year and publishes a journal, The Horn Call.-Formation:...
and has contributed various articles to its periodical, The Horn Call.
He is married to Charlotte Lambert Cerminaro, who is also a professional horn player.