Department of Music Faculty
Charles SchlueterTrumpetEducationBachelor of Science, The Juilliard School – 1962 Teaching2007 to 2008 – University of Connecticut
Schlueter's tenure of 25 years as principal trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is exceeded only by Georges Mager, who was principal for 31 years. Schlueter is the only principal trumpet in the 20th century who was not already a member of the BSO. (All of his predecessors were members of the orchestra prior to becoming principal trumpet: Gustav Heim, Roger Voisin, Armando Ghitalla, and Rolf Smedvig each joined the BSO as third or assistant principal trumpet. Mager was hired as a violist.) Schlueter also was a member of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players for 25 years. Prior to his appointment in Boston, he held the position of principal trumpet in the Minnesota Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony, and the Kansas City Philharmonic. He was associate principal trumpet in the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell Throughout his long and distinguished career, Schlueter has received numerous awards and accolades. He has appeared as soloist both in recital and with orchestras in France, Brazil, and Japan, as well as in the United States. He has appeared as soloist with the BSO under the direction of Seiji Ozawa and with the Minnesota Orchestra under conductors Neville Marriner, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, and Kazuyoshi Akiyama. In Japan he has appeared as soloist with the Kyushu Symphony in Fukuoka under Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi, and with conductor Naohiro Totsuka has performed with both the Tokyo City Philharmonic and the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra. He has also been soloist with the Kyushu and Hiroshima Symphonies with Kazuyoshi Akiyama conducting. In addition to being on the faculty of the New England Conservatory, Schlueter is also in demand as a teacher abroad and has held master classes in Europe, Canada, Japan, and South America. Since the 1980s he has been a regular visitor to Brazil, presenting master classes and recitals. He has appeared as soloist with orchestras in Joao Pessoa, Sao Luis, Recife, Sao Paulo, Campinas, Salvador, Vitoria, Rio de Janeiro, and Porto Alegre. He has taught in Rio de Janeiro at the University of Rio de Janeiro, and also in Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Vitoria, and Campinas. In 1988 Schlueter helped create the Northeastern Brazil Brass Master Classes in Joao Pessoa, and this series was subsequently expanded to include the areas of Sao Luis, Recife, and Belem. He also has performed and recorded with BRASSIL (the resident Brass Quintet of Paraiba University) and on several occasions has appeared with the Jazz Orchestra of J.U. Da Silva ("Duda"). Since 1995 Schlueter has been visiting professor at Sakuyo University, in Kurashiki, Japan, where in addition to teaching, he has given recitals with pianist Yasuo Watanabe and has appeared as soloist with the university's Wind Ensemble. Schlueter can be heard on most Boston Symphony recordings made since 1981. In 1994 he began making solo recordings. The first, "Bravura Trumpet," was originally recorded for VOX and has been re-issued by and is available through Schlueter's website. Three other CDs have been released subsequently on the Kleos Classics label: "Virtuoso Trumpet" (2001), "Trumpet Concertos" (2002), and "Trumpet Works" (2003). A new CD recorded during August 2007, is expected to be released by the end of the year. The repertoire on this CD is mostly solos performed by Schlueter over 50 years ago, many for solo competitions. There are three recent compositions: one by Norman Bolter and two by Eric Ewazen. Contents of Charles Schlueter’s solo CDs
|
Charles Schlueter grew up in Du Quoin, Illinois, and got his early musical training there. He started playing at the age of 10. His first teacher was Charles Archibald. His studies continued when he won a coloring contest sponsored by a local music store and received free lessons with the resident trumpet teacher, Don Lemasters. Subsequently, he studied with Mel Siener, band director at Du Quoin Township High School, whose encouragement had a profound influence on Schlueter becoming a professional musician. While in high school he also received instruction in St. Louis, Missouri, from Edward Brauer, who was a member of the staff of the NBC radio studio. His studies culminated at the Juilliard School, from which he graduated in 1962. There his mentor was William Vacchiano, then principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic.