Workshop Faculty

Haim Avitsur
Web: http://www.haimavitsur.com/
E-Mail: Haim.Avitsur@gmail.com

Trombonist Haim Avitsur has premiered over 60 new pieces encompassing a broad range of styles from solo trombone to chamber music and orchestra. He has worked with composers such as Joan Tower and Leo Kraft, as well as with composer’s organizations such as the New York Composers Circle. Mr. Avitsur has worked with composition students in seminars and short-term residencies in schools such as the University of Virginia, and Stanford University.

From 2004-2007 Haim Avitsur was on the faculty of the University of Virginia as well as the Principal Trombonist of the Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra. He is faculty at the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College, NY. In 2005 he founded Trio Hidas, with Nitzan Haroz, principal trombonist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and David Taylor, bass trombone soloist. Trio Hidas is the Ensemble in Residence of the Summer Trombone Workshop, of which Mr. Avitsur is the founder and Artistic Director. Beginning in August 2007, Summer Trombone Workshop is having a second residency in Taiwan.

Haim Avitsur was the only trombonist named a 2005 and 2007 Emerging Artist by Symphony Magazine. Recent performances include the David Trombone Concerto with the Western Piedmont Symphony (for a review click HERE), a recital of music for trombone and organ, and a performance of the Rosmann Trio (for oboe, trombone and piano) in a recital in New York. His book, “The Avitsur Method”, is now available through Design for Lightning Publishing. Haim Avitsur’s recent solo CD recording, Sonatas for Trombone and Piano by David Loeb, is available on the Vienna Modern Masters Label. Haim holds his Bachelor and Masters degrees from Mannes College of Music. Mr. Avitsur is a clinician for the Edwards Instrument Company.

Nitzan Haroz

Nitzan Haroz joined the Philadelphia Orchestra as principal trombone in 1995. He previously served as assistant principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic and as principal trombone of the Rishon-Le Zion Symphony and Opera Orchestra. He also held the position of first trombone of the Israel Defense Forces Orchestra and performed with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Haroz has appeared as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. An active chamber musician, he won first prize at the François Shapira Competition and received several America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarships. He has commissioned and premiered several works for trombone and harp and has given recitals in such venues as the Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C.; the International Harp Congress in France; and the Tel Aviv Museum. Haroz has also performed with the Rishon-Le Zion Brass Quintet, the Israel Defense Forces Brass Quintet and the Israel Brass Ensemble. He joined the faculty of The Curtis Institute of Music in 1998. (Edwards)

Dave Taylor
Web: http://www.davetaylor.net/

Receiving B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Juilliard School of Music, David Taylor started his playing career as a member of Leopold Stowkowski's American Symphony Orchestra, and by appearing with the New York Philharmonic under Pierre Boulez Almost simultaneously, he was a member of the Thad Jones Mel Lewis jazz band, and recorded with Duke Ellington (The New Orleans Suite), The Rolling Stones, and Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Mr. Taylor has recorded four solo albums (Koch, New World, and DMP) and has presented numerous recitals throughout the world (including Carnegie Recital Hall, Kaufman Auditorium at the Y at 92nd Street, and Merkin Hall). He has appeared as a soloist with the St. Luke's Chamber Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Caramoor Festival Orchestra, The NY Chamber Symphony, The Basil Sinfonietta, The Adelaide Philharmonic, and The Group for Contemporary Music among others. He has been involved in dozens of commissioning projects for the Bass Trombone in solo and chamber idioms; collaborating with composers including Alan Hovhaness, Charles Wuorinen, George Perle, Frederic Rzewski, Lucia Dlugoszchewski, Eric Ewazen, David Liebman, and Daniel Schnyder. He has appeared and recorded chamber music with Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Wynton Marsalis. Throughout his career, David Taylor has appeared and recorded with many major jazz and popular artists including Barbara Streisand, Miles Davis, Quincey Jones, Frank Sinatra, and Aretha Franklin. Mr. Taylor has won the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Most Valuable Player Award for five consecutive years, the most it could be awarded and has been awarded the NARAS Most Valuable Player Virtuoso Award, an honor accorded no other bass trombonist. He has been a member of the Gil Evans Band, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Band, George Russell's Band, the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, and the Chuck Israel Band to name a few. Although he has performed on numerous Grammy Award winning recordings, 1998 was special. In 1998 Taylor performed on four Grammy nominated D's: The J.J. Johnson Big Band, Dave Grusin's West Side Story, the Joe Henderson Big Band, and the Randy Brecker Band. The latter two CD's were chosen for Grammys. David Taylor currently performs with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Charles Mingus Big Band, Eos Orchestra, The NY Chamber Symphony, The Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, The Michelle Camillo Band, Areopagitica (a brass trio in residence at Mannes College), The Bob Mintzer Band, the Daniel Schnyder, David Taylor, and the Kenny Drew Jr Trio. He appears frequently with Orpheus, and the St. Luke's Chamber Orchestra, and he is on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music and Mannes College. Some upcoming events include appearances with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Chamber Music Northwest, and master classes and recitals in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. David has appeared with the Absolute Ensemble under the direction of Kristian Jarvi (this project was broadcasted on European TV and recorded for Enja Records), The Niederoesterreichische Tonkuenstlerochester, and The Tiroler Symphonie Orchester Innsbruck.