Phil Smith, Grover and world-famous classical trumpet player.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
Phil Smith of Ocean Grove and the New York Philharmonic has retired after 35 years as principal trumpet with the NYPO. He has a part-time home in Ocean Grove, but, in June, 2014, he took up a new position as Professor at the University of Georgia School of Music. Phil Smith is famous throughout the music world, especially among brass players, most all of whom view him as the greatest trumpet player. Mr. Smith is also known as a teacher, and when he announced his retirement last year, praise and tributes have been pouring in from students and admirers including a very fine piece on National Public Radio’s web site (with videos). Here is a link to that: NPR tribute to Phil Smith 2014
In 2013, Phil Smith performed in the Great Auditorium. He has done so before, and hopefully he will again in the future, but this was special because we got to interview him. Here is a link to our post about him: Blogfinger post about Phil Smith
In 1989, a video of Phil soloing with Zubin Mehta and the NY Philharmonic with Hadyn’s Trumpet Concerto, 3rd movement. From WQXR radio. Click on the link and then scroll down to the video.
And below is an excellent video of the New York Philharmonic brass section playing a selection from the Mahler Symphony #2 (Resurrection.) Phil sits on the right side of the trumpets, next to the trombones. The conductor is Alan Gilbert.
We hope that Phil Smith and Mrs. Smith will return for summers in the Grove. If we are lucky, maybe Gordon Turk will convince him to perform again on our stage in the Great Auditorium. That would be excellent!
But meanwhile, the Blogfinger music department wishes Phil all the best as he takes on a new challenge. I guess we know where the best collegiate trumpet players will be enrolling.
Note: Thanks to Tom Costantino of Ocean Grove who alerted us regarding Phil’s retirement.