Historical Trumpet Rosters for Major Symphony Orchestras

Derek Reaban · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:38 pm Post subject:

I received a message today from Mary Beveridge at the Kansas City Public Library. She has provided me with the information that I needed to complete the list for the KC Symphony / Philharmonic. I will open the final folder for this group soon. Another one complete!

Derek Reaban · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 11:43 am Post subject:

I received a message from Joe Cahn at the Denver Public Library today. He was able to fill in many of the details for the Denver Symphony Orchestra. I still have a gap from 1990 – 2000 that I hope to complete when I hear back from the Colorado Symphony. This list is mostly complete now!

Does anyone have an email address for Dan Kuehn? I found a reference on Doc’s page about the Destino Trumpets that Dan has played with the Colorado Symphony for 28 years. I’m sure he could help me fill in the details from the 90s.

Derek Reaban · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:29 am Post subject:

I’ve been thinking about the next ensembles to add to our lists. I heard the Gewandhaus Orchestra live in Tempe in the early 90s with Kurt Masur and they certainly need to be on our list. Teatro Alla Scala needs to be represented, Boston Pops, New York City Opera, New York City Ballet and other orchestras that people have contributed here. Here's a start for some of these ensembles.

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Principal Trumpet Players

Start-End________Name

19??-Current_______Karl-Heinz Georgi
1989-Current_______John Roderick MacDonald
19??-1989_________???
19??-19??_________Rolf Quinque
1867-18??_________Ferdinand Weinschenk
1781-1867_________???

Web Site: Gewandhausorchester Trumpet Players

Current Roster for the 2004-2005 Season:
Karl-Heinz Georgi - Principal
John Roderick MacDonald - Principal
Lukas Beno
Peter Wettemann
Gunter Navratil
Ulf Lehmann

References:
John Roderick MacDonald reference
Rolf Quinque reference

L'Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala
Principal Trumpet Players

Start-End________Name

19??-Current_______Giuseppe Bodanza
19??-Current_______Francesco Tamiati
19??-19??_________???

Web Site: L'Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala Trumpet Players

Current Roster for the 2004-2005 Season:
Giuseppe Bodanza – Principal
Francesco Tamiati – Principal
Sandro Malatesta
Mauro Edantippe
Gianni Dallaturca

New York City Opera Orchestra
Principal Trumpet Players

Start-End________Name

2000-Current_______Donald Batchelder (Acting Principal)
19??-19??_________Fred Mills
19??-19??_________???

Web Site: New York City Opera

References:
Donald Batchelder reference
Fred Mills reference

New York City Ballet Orchestra
Principal Trumpet Players

Start-End________Name

19??-Current_______Raymond Mase
19??-Current_______Neil Balm
19??-19??_________Ronald K. Anderson
1948-19??_________???

Web Site: New York City Ballet Orchestra Trumpet Section

Current Roster for the 2004-2005 Season:
Raymond Mase, Principal
Neil Balm, Co-Principal
Robert Haley

References:
Ray Mase reference
Neil Balm reference
Ronald K. Anderson reference
_________________
Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

Derek Reaban · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:53 am Post subject:

I received a message from Wilmer this morning with details about the NYC Opera and Ballet Orchestras. Now that I have a good start for these I can contact the players for their individual dates and then contact either the archives or public libraries to fill in the remaining gaps. Great start on these lists!

Derek Reaban · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 10:34 pm Post subject:

This is just a start for this ensemble. I reviewed the Douglas Yeo article about the Boston Symphony from the December 1990 ITG Journal and was able to find some information for names and dates. The dates for Tim Morrison came from the attached reference and the Douglas Yeo article mentioned that Charles Daval was principal with the Pops for the entire time that he was in Boston.

Boston Pops Orchestra
Principal Trumpet Players

Start-End______Name

1997-Current_______Thomas Rolfs
1987-1997_________Timothy Morrison
1983-1987_________Charles Daval
1957-1983_________Andre Come
1885-1957_________???

Web Site: Boston Pops Orchestra Trumpet Section

Current roster for the 2004-2005 Season:
Thomas Rolfs – Principal
Benjamin Wright
Peter Chapman

References:
Timothy Morrison reference
_________________
Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

Derek Reaban · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:37 am Post subject:

I received messages from Ray Mase, Neil Baum, and Don Batchelder this weekend with further details about the NYC Ballet and Opera Orchestras. I have start dates for the current principals and contact information to follow-up with past principals. When I have heard back from these players I will update these lists. I’m making good progress here.

New York City Opera Orchestra
Principal Trumpet Players

Start-End________Name

2003-Current_______Donald Batchelder
2000-2003_________Donald Batchelder (Acting Principal)
1985-2003_________Philip Ruecktenwald (estimate on start date)
1968-1985_________Thomas Lisenbee (17 years as Principal – est. on actual dates)
196?-19??_________Theodore Weis
196?-196?_________Fred Mills
1948-1949_________Armando Ghitalla
19??-19??_________???

Web Site: New York City Opera

References:
Donald Batchelder reference
Tom Lisenbee reference
Fred Mills reference

New York City Ballet Orchestra
Principal Trumpet Players

Start-End________Name

2003-Current_______Raymond Mase
2003-Current_______Neil Balm
19??-2003_________Robert Haley
19??-19??_________Ronald K. Anderson (possibly 1965?)
19??-19??_________Theodore Weis (possibly 1962?)
1948-1949_________Armando Ghitalla

Web Site: New York City Ballet Orchestra Trumpet Section

Current Roster for the 2004-2005 Season:
Raymond Mase, Principal
Neil Balm, Co-Principal
Robert Haley

References:
Ray Mase reference
Neil Balm reference
Ronald K. Anderson reference
Ted Weis & Ron Anderson reference – Ted Weis was a founding member of the American Brass Quintet in 1960 and Ron Anderson joined the ensemble in 1962.
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

WAKeele · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:02 am Post subject:

Derek, here's the lastest news I got from archives of the Nashville Symphony.

--William

William--I have come across only two changes in the trumpet roster. One of them was the one you pointed out--

Pat McGuffey was listed as Principal from 1982-83 through 1990-91. And Sammy Swor is listed as First in 1952-53.

Otherwise the list is as sent in November. Hope this answers your questions. Barbara
_________________
WAK
Ace Hardware Hoseophone w/heavy-weight funnel
Bach 20C Megatone (gold plated) w/ 30 throat
Handguard once believed to be used by Arban
$10,000 Stoneline mute bought on eBay

Derek Reaban · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:56 am Post subject:

William,

Thanks for the additional details on the Principal players with The Nashville Symphony. I looked back on Page 14 of this folder and found the information that you received from The Nashville Symphony. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any listing of principal players prior to the recent information that you received.

Could you check with them again and ask who the players were in the principal chair from 1946-1952 and from 1953-1982? With this information, this ensemble would be complete!

Thanks!

The Nashville Symphony
Principal Trumpet Players

Start-End________Name

2000-Current_______Patrick Kunkee (Co-Principal)
2000-Current_______Jeffrey Bailey (Co-Principal)
1991-2000_________Patrick Kunkee
1982-1991_________Patrick McGuffey
1953-1982_________TBD
1952-1953_________Sammy Swor
1946-1952_________TBD

Web Site: The Nashville Symphony Trumpet Players

Current roster for 2004-2005:
Patrick Kunkee – Co-Principal
Jeffrey Bailey – Co-Principal
Gary Armstrong – Assistant Principal
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

Derek Reaban · Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 9:38 am Post subject:

I have had some conversations with Bruce Revesz (trumpet with the NYC Opera for many years), Don Batchelder, and Bob Haley. I have made very good progress with these lists. I still need to contact Ron Anderson (I have a phone number) and need to hear back from Tom Lisenbee, but I think I have sufficient information to contact the archives and / or public library to see if they may have past programs and can provide additional information.

New York City Opera Orchestra
Principal Trumpet Players

Start-End________Name

2003-Current_______Donald Batchelder
2000-2003_________Donald Batchelder (Acting Principal)
1992-2003_________Philip Ruecktenwald (estimate on start date)
1973-1992_________Thomas Lisenbee (17 years as Principal – est. on actual dates)
1968-1973_________Theodore Weis
1964-1968_________Fred Mills
1949-1964_________Theodore Weis (estimate on start date)
1948-1949_________Armando Ghitalla
19??-1948_________???

Web Site: New York City Opera

Current Roster for the 2005-2006 Season:
Donald Batchelder – Principal
Thomas Hoyt
Jerry Bryant

References:
Donald Batchelder reference
Tom Lisenbee reference
Fred Mills reference

New York City Ballet Orchestra
Principal Trumpet Players

Start-End________Name

2003-Current_______Raymond Mase
2003-Current_______Neil Balm (Co-Principal)
1993-2003_________Raymond Mase (Co-Principal)
1993-2003_________Robert Haley (Co-Principal)
1976-1993_________Ronald K. Anderson (dates may not be exact)
196?-1976_________Theodore Weis (possibly 1962?)
1949-196?_________Arthur Stater (spelling?)
1948-1949_________Armando Ghitalla

Web Site: New York City Ballet Orchestra Trumpet Section

Current Roster for the 2004-2005 Season:
Raymond Mase, Principal
Neil Balm, Co-Principal
Robert Haley

References:
Ray Mase reference
Neil Balm reference
Ronald K. Anderson reference
Ted Weis & Ron Anderson reference – Ted Weis was a founding member of the American Brass Quintet in 1960 and Ron Anderson joined the ensemble in 1962.
_________________
Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

Derek Reaban · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:57 am Post subject:

I received a great message from Tom Lisenbee today who was Principal Trumpet with the NYC Opera Orchestra for many years. There are just some minor overlaps in dates compared to what I received from Bruce Revesz. I’m going to send Tom a response back about Armando Ghitalla who I know was in the NYC Opera Orchestra’s based on an ITG reference that I found as well as confirmation from Bruce Revesz.

I have sent messages to the NYC Opera and Ballet to see if their Archive department can help me finalize this information. It’s great to have these ensembles almost complete!

Derek Reaban · Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 8:05 pm Post subject:

I received a message from Sidney Laramie a Librarian in the Special Collections Department of the San Diego Public Library. With the exception of the 1981-1982 Season and the early years of the SDSO (1913-1940) this ensemble is nearly complete. Can anyone help me with 1981-82?

Derek Reaban · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:16 am Post subject:

I heard back from Daniel Kuehn this morning about the Colorado Symphony. With his input this ensemble is now complete!

Colorado Symphony Orchestra / Denver Symphony Orchestra
Trumpet Players

Start-End________Name

2005-Current_______To be Filled by Audition
2004-2005_________Scott Natzke (Beginning January 2004)
2003-2003_________Daniel Kuehn (Acting Principal, first half of 2003-2004 Season)
2003-2003_________Patrick Tillery (Acting Principal, first half of 2003-2004 Season)
2001-2003_________Joshua MacCluer
2000-2001_________Russell Campbell
1989-2000_________Manual Araujo
Colorado Symphony Organized (1989)
Denver Symphony Bankruptcy (1989)
1960-1989_________Manual Araujo
1958-1960_________Stephen Chenette
1957-1958_________Thomas Wohlwender
1956-1957_________Harry M. Jellen
1954-1956_________Richard Smith
1942-1954_________Edwin Lenicheck
1936-1942_________B. Jollivette
1924-1935_________John S. Leick
1923-1924_________F. Heusgen
1922-1923_________L. De Sciose

Web site: Colorado Symphony Orchestra

Current roster for the 2004-2005 Season:
Scott Natzke - Principal Trumpet
Daniel Kuehn
Patrick Tillery – 3rd / Associate Principal

References:
Manny Araujo reference
Stephen Chenette reference
Thomas Wohlwender reference Page 18
Richard Smith reference: ITG Feb 1994
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Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

Derek Reaban · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:55 am Post subject:

I received a message from Myron Patterson who is the Music Librarian and Adjunct Associate Professor of Music at the University of Utah. He was able to find additional information about the Utah Symphony to add to our list.

Derek Reaban · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:59 am Post subject:

I received a message from Erich Graf (Principal Flute with the Utah Symphony and President of the Local Music Union), and he is looking into my request to complete the list for the Utah Symphony. I have an additional name to add to the list based on a program that he found from 1947.

Jon Baker · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:56 pm Post subject:

Derek Reaban · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:51 pm Post subject:

Jon,

Thanks so much for clarifying the name change for your Dad. If you haven’t had a chance to look at the completed folder for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Trumpet Section, please click on this link. I would love to add a bio “post” with the details of your Father’s career. If you would be able to post a picture of him on your web site, I could provide a link to the “bio” folder along with whatever details that you could provide.

I have updated the CSO folder to show your Dad’s given name for completeness, as well as added your post above in that same folder.

Thanks! Looking forward to hearing from you again!
_________________
Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

Jon Baker · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 3:40 pm Post subject:

Dad also confirms that Schlossberg was 2nd chair in the NYP, moving down to 4th after a while. Through much of that period, the principals were his students. Dad studied with Schlossberg until Schlossberg died, just before Dad started at Juilliard (1936). He then studied with Williams for 2 years, while fighting some kind of political battle to get in with Vacchiano. Finally, in his third year, he studied with Vacchiano, who was 3rd chair in NYP at the time. Williams was an old man who kept falling asleep during lessons, and Dad wanted someone more dynamic.

Harry Glantz was his cousin by marriage - a lot of orchestra players were related to him. His mother's family was known as the Philharmonic Fishbergs, because from 1916-1970, there were 1-6 members of the family in the NYP and its predecessor orchestras. Dad regards him as the greatest trumpet player of the century. Dad's father, Harry Beckerman, played sax with the NYP from 1916 onwards when they needed one, and the last was Dad's cousin Jack Fishberg, who retired in 1970. Find the Halloween 1949 issue of the New Yorker for an extended article about the family.

I note some Gusikoffs in your lists - back in Volhynia, in the 19th century, Beckerman's and Gusikoff's orchestras used to compete for the same wedding business.

Beckerman and Fishberg were all the same family, except that Great-Grandpa Fishberg changed his name from Beckerman to avoid the Russian draft in, oh, 1864 or so.

After leaving Chicago, and meeting his first wife, Dad played in the Radio City Music Hall orchestra, and various Broadway plays, including the entire run of My Fair Lady. He spent a lot of time reading in the orchestra pit, catching up on the liberal-arts education that Juilliard didn't yet offer.

He started teaching in the NYC public schools when my sister was born in 1953. His first wife died, he met my mother in 1963, and cut back from two full-time jobs (school and theatre) to 1.5 - school and Met Opera, with Goldman Band in the summer. He pretty much stopped performing around 1976 or so, and retired from Laguardia HS for Music and the Arts in 1989. Lately, he has become an amateur cantor, and plays recorder, sometimes leading an amateur group at the Teachers Union.

If you want to talk to him, he's in the phone book. We've had trouble convincing him to use the computer much.
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Jon Baker
Brooklyn, NY

Derek Reaban · Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:50 am Post subject:

When I was putting the player bios together for the Colorado / Denver Symphony I noticed that Stephen Chenette was Principal Trumpet of the Boston Pops in 1960. I’m waiting to hear back from someone at the Boston Pops to help complete this list, but I wanted to update it with this information while I was thinking about it.

Boston Pops Orchestra
Principal Trumpet Players

Start-End______Name

1997-Current_______Thomas Rolfs
1987-1997_________Timothy Morrison
1983-1987_________Charles Daval
1960-1983_________Andre Come
1960-1960_________Stephen Chenette
1885-1960_________???

Web Site: Boston Pops Orchestra Trumpet Section

Current roster for the 2004-2005 Season:
Thomas Rolfs – Principal
Benjamin Wright
Peter Chapman

References:
Timothy Morrison reference.
_________________
Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest

Derek Reaban · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:39 am Post subject:

I had two messages when I arrived at work today. The first from Beate Neunteufel-Zechner at Musiksammlung der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek in Vienna and the second from Stuart Robinson at the Halle Orchestra. It looks like the Vienna Philharmonic and the Halle Orchestra lists are now complete! I will open final folders for these ensembles in the near future.

Derek Reaban · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:03 am Post subject:

This is my best guess for the Wiener Philharmoniker based on the information that I received from the ONB and the Wiener Philharmoniker. I have messages in to both people that helped with this information to see if I can get clarification on Josef Pomberger’s dates and Helmut Wobisch’s dates (the membership dates are correct, but I want the specific dates when they were in the principal chair).

If anyone has contact information for Josef Pomberger or could refer him to this message, that would be great!

Wiener Philharmoniker
Principal Trumpet Players

Start-End________Name

1999-Current_______Gotthard Eder OK
1996-Current_______Hans Peter Schuh (1981-Current) OK
1982-1996_________Hans Gansch (1982-1996) OK
1975-1999_________Josef Pomberger (1975-2004) OK
1974-1992_________Walter Singer OK
1967-1975_________Adolf Holler OK
1939-1978_________Helmut Wobisch (1939-1978)
1951-1974_________Josef Levora OK (1934-1974) OK (First program as Principal 1951)
1934-1951_________Franz Dengler (1918-1955) OK (Last program as Principal 1949, Programs missing for 1950-1951)
1932-1934_________Wilhelm Wendt OK
1900-1930_________Max Schöniger (1900-1930)
1892-1911_________Franz Rossbach (1892-1911)
1893-1909_________Adolf Stiegler (1888-1926) (Programs available for 1893 – 1909, Programs missing from 1909 – 1932)
1860-1893_________Archives Catalog of Membership only dates back to 1880
1842-1860_________Adalbert Maschek

Web Site: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Trumpet Players

Current roster for the 2004-2005 Season:
Hans Peter Schuh
Gotthard Eder
Martin Mühlfellner
Josef Pomberger
Reinhold Ambros

Information provided by Dr. Silvia Kargl, Historisches Archiv der Wiener Philharmoniker and Beate Neunteufel-Zechner, Musiksammlung der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek

References:
Josef Pomberger reference: http://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/index.php?set_language=en&cccpage=news_detail&set_z_news=338
Hans Gansch reference: http://www.artofbrassvienna.com/members-e.htm
Walter Singer reference: http://www02.so-net.ne.jp/~kusatsu/eng/e3_facul.html
Levora and Wobisch reference: http://www.breslmair.at/i-site/biographie_e.pdf
_________________
Derek Reaban
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe Winds / Symphony of the Southwest