Guest Duo to Perform at UW Feb. 5

The University of Wyoming Department of Music will host Joseph Alessi, New York Philharmonic principal trombone, and John Dickson, piano, at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts recital hall. The performance is free and open to the public.

The program will include pieces by Roger Boutry and Chick Corea, as well as by Dickson, a pianist and composer.

Alessi has been with the New York Philharmonic since 1985 and previously performed with the San Francisco Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and Montreal Symphony Orchestra. He also was guest principal trombonist with the London Symphony Orchestra in Carnegie Hall.

Alessi is an active soloist, recitalist and chamber musician, and also has recorded and performed extensively with five prominent trombone quartets. He also has had solo engagements with symphonies all over the world and in the U.S. Alessi was awarded an International Trombone Association Award, in 2002, for his contributions to the world of trombone music and trombone playing. In 2014, he was elected president of that association.

Dickson brings a unique blend of musical artistry and versatility to his compositions. A multi-instrumentalist, he has a background in composing music for film, television and the recording industry, as well as performing with such artists as Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Ray Charles and Seth MacFarlane.

Dickerson has composed and arranged music for nearly every facet of the entertainment industry, including for the hit USA series “Burn Notice”; the film “XXX”; chamber music with Corea, a jazz great; and many cable and network television shows and movies.

He has received four American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Top Television Series awards and has contributed to projects that have earned Emmy and Grammy awards, and multiple film festival distinctions.

For more information, call Kathy Kirkaldie, UW Fine Arts coordinator, at (307) 766-2160 or email kirisk@uwyo.edu.