| Band Members | The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass is a collection of Philadelphia's top brass and percussion players who regularly perform with the area's most prestigious musical organizations including The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Delaware Symphony, The Opera Company of Philadelphia, and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.
The sound of Rodney Mack’s trumpet has reverberated
throughout the world. Whether playing baroque piccolo trumpet or interpreting
works commissioned especially for him, his artistry has been enthusiastically
enjoyed inside of the United States and in such countries as France, Spain,
Germany, England, Greece, Rumania, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. He has been praised
by music critics from Fanfare Magazine, American Record Guide, Records
International Catalog, and other international publications for his evocative
interpretation, impeccable virtuosity, and beauty of sound.
A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Rodney Mack has worked under the
guidance of world renowned conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Michael Tilson
Thomas, Gerard Schwarz, James DePreist, John Williams, Jesus Lopez- Cobos and
Christopher Hogwood. He was awarded a fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Center
where he was invited to return for a second summer during which he was awarded
the Seiji Ozawa Award for Outstanding Musicianship.
Mr. Mack was born in New Orleans, Louisiana where he began his musical studies
at the age of six. When he was eleven years of age, he began taking classical
trumpet lessons with his cousin, Wynton Marsalis. Referred to as a "trumpet
prodigy" Rodney Mack’s solo debut was at the age of fifteen with the New Orleans
Symphony. After having won various solo competitions, he received national
attention at the age of nineteen performing as soloist with the Boston Pops
Orchestra. He has also performed as soloist with the San Diego Symphony, the
Tenerife Symphony, the Orquestra Sinfonica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya,
The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and many orchestras throughout the United
States and Europe.
Mr. Mack has made several world premiere recordings including "Sonata for
Trumpet and Piano" (Albany Records) by Adolphus Hailstork and "In Our Own
House" (Albany Records) by composer Alvin Singleton with saxophonist Branford
Marsalis and concert pianist Karen Walwyn.
In 1998 Rodney Mack made the premiere and critically acclaimed recording of
Franz Waxman’s "Carmen Fantasy for Trumpet and Orchestra" with conductor
Lawrence Foster on the Koch International record label.
Mr. Mack's debut solo trumpet CD "Spirit of the Trumpeter" (Albany Records) has
been dubbed as a "best seller". It is a compilation of some of the most popular
recital works for trumpet and piano. Regarding "Spirit of the Trumpeter," former
cornet virtuoso and renown conductor Gerard Schwarz says, "Rodney Mack is a
superb trumpet player and musician. I have no doubt that this CD will make an
important addition to the catalogue of sublime trumpet performances."
In the course of his more than twenty years as an orchestral musician, Mr. Mack
was the winner of several national and international competitions for titled
orchestral chairs including positions with The New Orleans Symphony, The
Colorado Symphony Orchestra, The San Diego Symphony Orchestra, The Orquestra
Sinfonica de Tenerife, The Barcelona Symphony, and The Richmond Symphony. After
completing a one year trial period he was awarded the Principal Trumpet position
with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. During his tenure as Principal
Trumpet with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra Mr. Mack was appointed head of the
trumpet department at the Escuela Superior de Musica de Catalunya (ESMUC)
Spain's leading music conservatory. He has recently been invited to give master
classes at the Julliard School, The North Carolina School for the Arts, the
National Trumpet Competition and the International Trumpet Guild Conference. He
has also been invited to teach at the Eastern Music Festival and the Interlochen
Music Academy.
Rodney can be heard as Soloist and Principal Trumpet on more than thirty
different recordings with labels such as Decca, Naxos, Koch International
Classics, and Albany Records. His year is split between his duties as Principal
Trumpet with Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and various master classes and
solo engagements in the United States and abroad.
Contact The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass:
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1930 Chestnut Street, Suite 8A
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 800-211-6006 |
