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Philip Smith joined the New York Philharmonic as Co-Principal Trumpet in October 1978, and assumed the position of Solo Principal Trumpet in June 1988. His early training was provided at The Salvation Army, and continued under the tutelage of his father, Derek Smith, himself a renowned cornetist. He is a graduate of The Juilliard School, having studied with Edward Treutel and William Vacchiano, former Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic. In January 1975, while still at Juilliard, Mr. Smith was appointed to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Sir Georg Solti.
Mr. Smith has appeared regularly as soloist, recitalist, chamber orchestra performer, and clinician. He has been featured as a soloist with the Philharmonic in more than 75 performances under conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur, Erich Leinsdorf, Leonard Bernstein, Neeme Järvi and Bramwell Tovey. Highlights have included the world premiere of Joseph Turrins Trumpet Concerto with the New York Philharmonic, its subsequent European premiere with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the U.S. premiere of Jacques Hetus Trumpet Concerto, the world premiere (2000) of Lowell Liebermanns Concerto, and the world premiere (2003) of Siegfried Matthuss Double Concerto for Trumpet, Trombone, and Orchestra. He has been a guest soloist with the South Dakota Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Newfoundland Symphony, Columbus (Indiana) Symphony, Pensacola (Florida) Symphony, Hartford (Connecticut) Symphony, and Beaumont (Texas) Symphony.
Mr. Smith has also appeared with many symphonic wind ensembles, including the United States Presidents Own Marine Band, La Philharmonie des Vents des Quebec, Hanover Wind Symphony, Ridgewood Concert Band, and many major university wind ensembles. He has appeared at The College Band Directors National Association Convention in Austin, Texas, for the world premiere (1999) of Turrins Chronicles with the University of New Mexico Wind Ensemble.
An avid brass band enthusiast, Mr. Smith has been guest soloist with the United States Army Brass Band, Goteborg Brass (Sweden), Black Dyke Mills and Ridged Containers Bands (Britain), Hannaford Street Silver Band and Intrada Brass (Canada), and numerous American and Salvation Army Brass Bands. He appeared as featured soloist at the 1996 British Open Brass Band Championships in Manchester, England.
Mr. Smith has been on the faculty at The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, and has appeared as recitalist and clinician at the Caramoor International Music Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival, Swiss Brass Week, Breman (Germany) Trumpet Days, Oslo (Norway) Trumpet Week, Harmony Ridge (Vermont) Festival, Scotia Festival of Music and numerous International Trumpet Guild conferences.
As a member of the Principal Brass Quintet of the New York Philharmonic, Mr. Smith has twice toured Japan, and visited Brazil and Germany. He has also performed and recorded with the Canadian Brass, Empire Brass, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Mostly Mozart Orchestra, Bargemusic, and New York Virtuosi Chamber Symphony.
His solo recordings include Contest Solos produced by the International Trumpet Guild; Fandango, featuring New York Philharmonic Principal Trombonist Joseph Alessi and the University of New Mexico Wind Symphony (Summit); My Song of Songs with the New York Staff Band of The Salvation Army (Triumphonic); Coplands Quiet City (Deutsche Grammophone); New York Legends (CALA); Orchestral Excerpts for Trumpet, (Summit); Ellen Taaffe Zwilichs Concerto for Trumpet and Five Instruments (New World); Bachs Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 (Koch); and Waltons Façade (Arabesque). He has three recordings with his Gospel group, Resounding Praise; We Live To Worship You, The Trump Shall Resound and Repeat the Sounding Joy.
Mr. Smith is involved in a series of projects with Curnow Music Press, publishing music arrangements with demonstration CDs. These include Great Hymns, "More Great Hymns" and "Great Christmas Carols" for trumpet, piano and organ, and Concert Studies for trumpet. He is also featured in a similar project entitled Total Trumpet, featuring trumpet studies written by Michael Davis and demonstrated by Randy Brecker, Jim Hynes and Philip Smith, published by Hip-Bone Music.
Mr. Smith and his wife, Sheila, live in New Jersey, and have two adult children.
