[Dixielandjazz] Glenn Dodson Obit - From Curtis Institute

Steve Barbone barbonestreet at earthlink.net
Thu Apr 12 09:34:19 PDT 2007


Here is the obit on Glenn from Curtis Institute. The concert mentioned in
the last paragraph, a sort of mini history of his life in the musical world,
is at Curtis on April 24, starting at 8 PM. Some of his peers and students
will perform. The jazz band in which he performed regularly after his
retirement from the Philadelphia Orchestra, Barbone Street, will be the last
performers at the concert in his honor, for a New Orleans send-off.

Pete Reichlin, one of his students, principal trombone of the Trenton
Symphony and well know Philadelphia area jazz trombonist/tubist will appear
there with us on trombone.

Steve Barbone      

April 10, 2007 

CURTIS MOURNS THE LOSS OF GLENN DODSON, EMERITUS FACULTY MEMBER AND ALUMNUS

Former Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Trombone Taught at Curtis for Nearly
Thirty Years 

The Curtis Institute of Music mourns the loss of Glenn Dodson (Trombone
'54), alumnus, longtime faculty member, and one of the world¹s premier
trombonists, who died at his home in Newtown Square on April 7 at age 76.
Mr. Dodson taught at Curtis for nearly thirty years, while serving as
principal trombone of the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy,
Riccardo Muti, and Wolfgang Sawallisch. Before his return to Philadelphia,
he played solo trombone in the U.S. Marine Corps Band and principal trombone
with the New Orleans Symphony, while also backing such jazz artists as Al
Hirt and Pete Fountain; he also played for three years with the Chicago
Symphony. While in Philadelphia, he continued to perform jazz, Dixieland,
and big-band music with major artists, applying the same enthusiasm and
consummate skill that he brought to his symphonic career. After his
retirement from the Philadelphia Orchestra, he continued to teach at Curtis,
where he became emeritus faculty in 1998.

A larger-than-life figure, Mr. Dodson was a master of his instrument, a
gifted teacher, a raconteur without peer, and above all a gentleman. His
sudden departure from the stage of life has shocked and saddened the entire
musical community. He often regaled audiences with his fine singing voice as
the baritone in a barbershop quartet made up of members of the Philadelphia
Orchestra including Joseph Alessi (Trombone '81, now principal trombone of
the New York Philharmonic), Roger Blackburn (Trumpet '69, a member of the
Philadelphia Orchestra), and Charles Vernon (former Curtis faculty member
and now bass trombone of the Chicago Symphony). Their performance at a
Curtis Christmas party in the 1980s was the stuff of legends.

Mr. Dodson's former students now play in the world's leading orchestras,
including those in Philadelphia, New York, Cleveland, Baltimore, and San
Francisco; as well as the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra (Brazil),
Teatro all Scala, Bavarian State Opera, and others. His recordings set the
standard for future generations of trombonists. Everyone at Curtis sends
their deepest sympathies to Glenn Dodson's family and condolences to his
former students who have lost their mentor.

Mr. Dodson's current and former students, friends, and colleagues will offer
a concert in his honor on Tuesday, April 24 at 8 p.m. in Field Concert Hall,
1726 Locust Street.




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