Philip Smith (musician)
Encyclopedia
Philip Smith is an eminent American
classical trumpet
player. He is the principal trumpeter in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Smith, born in the UK
, is from a Salvation Army
background. He maintains a high reputation amongst trumpeters worldwide as one of the best. He assumed the co-principal position in the New York Philharmonic in June 1978 and the principal position in 1988. He also is a supporter of brass bands, performing with various groups of distinction.
He was a student at the Juilliard School of Music under renowned trumpeter William Vacchiano
(who was at the time Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic)and Edward Treutel, and for three years performed alongside Principal Trumpet Adolph Herseth
(widely considered to be the finest orchestral trumpeter in American history) in the Chicago Symphony.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
classical trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
player. He is the principal trumpeter in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Smith, born in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, is from a Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
background. He maintains a high reputation amongst trumpeters worldwide as one of the best. He assumed the co-principal position in the New York Philharmonic in June 1978 and the principal position in 1988. He also is a supporter of brass bands, performing with various groups of distinction.
Premieres
- World premiere of Joseph Turrin’s Trumpet Concerto (with the New York Philharmonic)
- US premiere of Jacques Hetu’s Trumpet Concerto
- World premiere (2000) of Lowell Liebermann’s Concerto
- World premiere (2003) of Siegfried Matthus’s Double Concerto for Trumpet, Trombone, and Orchestra.
Other Performances and Recordings
- Canadian Brass
- Empire Brass
- The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln CenterThe Chamber Music Society of Lincoln CenterThe Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center is an American organization dedicated to the performance and promotion of chamber music. Its website states that it is "the nation’s premier repertory company for chamber music."...
- Mostly Mozart Orchestra
- BargemusicBargemusicBargemusic, formally known as Bargemusic, Ltd. is a classical music venue and cultural icon in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 1977, it is housed on a converted coffee barge moored at Fulton Ferry Landing on the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge....
- New York Virtuosi Chamber Symphony.
Career and Album Releases
He has worked at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, and has many albums attributed to him, such as:- Fandango (a contest solo produced by the International Trumpet Guild), featuring New York Philharmonic principal trombonist Joseph AlessiJoseph AlessiJoseph Alessi is a world-renowned, primarily classical, trombonist; he is the current Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and an active soloist, teacher/clinician and recording artist. Alessi is considered the finest player in modern times....
and the University of New Mexico Wind Symphony (Summit RecordsSummit RecordsSummit Records, Inc. is an internationally distributed record label that evolved out of the dynamic large brass ensemble, Summit Brass in the late 1980s...
) - My Song of Songs with the New York Staff Band of The Salvation Army (Triumphonic)
- Copland’s Quiet City (Deutsche Grammophone)
- New York Legends (CALA): part of a series involving New York Philharmonic musicians
- Orchestral Excerpts for Trumpet (Summit RecordsSummit RecordsSummit Records, Inc. is an internationally distributed record label that evolved out of the dynamic large brass ensemble, Summit Brass in the late 1980s...
): notable for being composed only of popular trumpet excerpts, especially those often called for in orchestral auditions - Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Concerto for Trumpet and Five Instruments (New World)
- Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 (Koch)
- Walton’s Façade (Arabesque)
- The Trump Shall Resound and Repeat the Sounding Joy (Heritage)
He was a student at the Juilliard School of Music under renowned trumpeter William Vacchiano
William Vacchiano
William Vacchiano was a trumpeter and trumpet instructor.Originally from Portland, Maine, Vacchiano studied trumpet at age 12. At 14 years old, he was playing in the Portland Symphony. Later he performed with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra for 38 years and taught at the Juilliard School for...
(who was at the time Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic)and Edward Treutel, and for three years performed alongside Principal Trumpet Adolph Herseth
Adolph Herseth
Adolph Sylvester Herseth, was principal trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1948 until 2001, and served as principal trumpet emeritus from 2001 until his retirement in 2004.-Biography:...
(widely considered to be the finest orchestral trumpeter in American history) in the Chicago Symphony.