Bro’ Mel Goldfinger in the Rutherford High School band–on trombone. c. mid 1960’s. Excellent embouchure.

Bro’ Mel was my mischievous little brother.  We both were in the RHS Fighting Bulldogs Band, but not at the same time. Our high school had about 600 kids, and about 300 participated in some musical activity.  Our uniforms made us look like school crossing guards, but we did sound good. Mel was a more serious musician than I. He also was a varsity soccer player who sometimes scored and sometimes he dribbled around the cheerleaders.

He majored in science at Rutgers, but he minored in trombone, believe it or not; As a scarlet knight he learned every piece of music ever written for the trombone.  These days he is a retired neurosciences professor in Ohio.

He plays 8 instruments including the viola, trombone, euphonium and several varieties of other brass instruments.

Mel now performs in a few ensembles including a symphony orchestra, Broadway musical pit bands, and a string quartet.  Regarding the latter, he does not play the trombone in that group——he’s a violist.

Hey Mel:  Happy happy, merry merry.

Paul Goldfinger,  Editor Blogfinger.net

KOSEI WIND ORCHESTRA    with Rimsky Korsakoff’s Trombone Concerto III Allegro