Author Biography

Ken Shifrin: The Alto Trombone in the Orchestra: 1800-2000

Ken Shifrin, whose playing was described by the Vienna Kurier as "brilliant, with almost unbelievable beauty of tone, artistry and elegance", is a native of Washington, D.C. He was appointed Principal Trombonist of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 1982 by Chief Conductor Sir Simon Rattle who declared him "not only one of the most able trombonists in my experience but also an intelligent and wide-ranging musician". Prior to coming to Britain, he held the position of Principal Trombonist with the Radio Stuttgart Orchestra and Associate Principal with the Israel Philharmonic. In the U.S.A. he was a member of the popular rock band the Atlantics, performing for such artistes as Michael Jackson, Olivia Newton-John, Natalie Cole, Paul Anka, the Drifters, Pearl Bailey and Andy Williams. He is much in demand as a guest soloist, having appeared with the U.S. Navy Band, the U.S. Army band, at the Smetana International Music Festival, the Malta International Arts Festival, the Dvořák Summer Festival, the Edinburgh Festival and the London Barbican, as well as presenting recitals and master classes in Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Krakow, Bratislava, Kiev, Cardiff, Oxford and Washington D.C. Dr Shifrin has premiered a number of works, including the first American and British performances of the Leopold Mozart "Concerto for Alto Trombone". With a PhD in musicology from Oxford University, Ken Shifrin was the recipient of a British Academy Humanities Research Board's Scholarship as well as being named the Halstead Scholar by the Board of the Oxford University Music Faculty. Since 2000 he has been a British Exchange Scholar for the Czech Academy of Science in Prague and has presented papers at musicology meetings on both sides of the Atlantic. Dr Shifrin is listed in the International Who's Who of Music.

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‹‹ Bibliography | Table of Contents | Appendices 1 & 2 ››

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