UW News

October 15, 2009

Faculty artist Stephen Fissel to perform on bass trombone Oct. 19

UW faculty artist and Seattle Symphony Orchestra trombonist Stephen Fissel will step from the back of the orchestra to the front of the stage to present solo music for the bass trombone in a concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in Brechemin Auditorium.


Assisted by pianist Meade Crane, Fissel will perform both new and old music written for this mellifluous and versatile instrument. Program selections include works by Jan Koetsier, Eugene Bozza, Alexjey Lebedev, Richard Stroud, Michael B. Nelson and John Frith.


Fissel has been a part of the music scene in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest for 30 years. As a trombonist with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra he has occupied, at various times, all three chairs of the trombone section, and since 1993 has held the position of bass trombone. He is also a veteran of some 28 complete performances of Wagner’s famed Ring Cycle, having played the parts of the principal trombone, bass trumpet and bass trombone/contrabass trombone.


He has appeared as a soloist with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and the Tacoma Concert Band, and as a chamber musician with Sante Fe Chamber Music Festival, Seattle Chamber Music Society, and the Seattle Brass Ensemble. He also has performed with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Northwest Sinfonia, the Oregon Symphony, the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Colorado Music Festival.


Fissel taught low brass at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for 15 years. He joined the distinguished artist faculty at the University of Washington School of Music as a trombone professor in 2008.


Pianist Meade Crane, a Texas native, has lived in Seattle since 1990 and is active in contemporary ensemble, film soundtrack recording, student collaboration, and score preparation, among other musical ventures.


Tickets for the concert are $10, cash or check at the door. For more information, call 206-685-8384 or visit online at www.music.washington.edu.