Norman Bolter
Trombone, Euphonium, Chamber Music
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Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Norman Bolter began his formal trombone studies at age nine. Later, he studied with Ronald Rickets and Steven Zellmer of the Minnesota Orchestra and with John Swallow at the New England Conservatory. Mr. Bolter also includes former BSO principal bassoonist, Sherman Walt, among his mentors.
A Tanglewood Fellow and C. D. Jackson Award winner, Bolter joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1975 at age 20, becoming the youngest member of the orchestra at that time. As well, he is principal trombonist of the Boston Pops Orchestra and was a founding member of the Empire Brass Quintet, which won the prestigious Walter H. Naumberg Award in Chamber Music, the first brass ensemble ever to win this award. Bolter also has received critical acclaim as a guest soloist and regularly appears in recital in which he has premiered a number of his own compositions.
In addition to his many recordings with the BSO, Boston Pops and Empire Brass Quintet, Bolter also appears as principal trombonist on recordings with Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine. As well, he appears as soloist and conductor on four recordings of his own compositions, Experiments in Music, Anew at Home, Occurrences and In Living Continuance. In addition to his numerous trombone solos, Bolter performed the acclaimed tenor tuba solo in the BSO recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 7 (Philips Classics Productions, 1990) and also plays euphonium on the Minnesota Orchestra recording of Ein Heldenleben by Richard Strauss.
Bolter has composed music from a very early age, with the last eleven years witnessing an outpouring of new works winning him acclaim as a composer both in the US and abroad. In addition to his own recordings of his works, Bolter's compositions have appeared on recordings by New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and Lost Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra trombonists Joseph Alessi, Ronald Barron, Douglas Yeo and James Miller. Further, his compositions have been performed throughout the world, including in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Europe and the US.
In his numerous compositions (over 200 to date), Bolter explores creating tangible atmospheres through music inspired by the natural worlds and the human story, using a broad range of instrumentation, including solo instruments (trombone, trumpet, tuba, French horn, flute, didjeridoo, ram's horn, serpent and others), brass ensemble, trombone choir, concert band, brass band, mixed chamber ensemble and orchestra. Notably, Bolter has composed more music for the trombone than any other composer.
Compositions by Bolter have been commissioned by numerous organizations and individuals, including Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, the Zellmer-Minnesota Orchestra Trombone Competition, the University of St. Thomas, the Online Trombone Journal, New York Philharmonic principal trombonist Joseph Alessi, several Boston Symphony Orchestra colleagues and others. His conducting includes New England Conservatory trombone ensemble and chamber music groups as well as the Frequency Band, which he co-founded and directs.
A renowned teacher, Bolter serves on the faculties of the New England Conservatory of Music, where he has taught since 1981, and Longy School of Music. Many of his students hold positions in major symphony orchestras, chamber music groups and universities around the world. In addition to conducting regular master classes, Bolter holds special workshops, Frequency Band "retreats," co-conducted with psychologist Dr. Carol Viera, designed to offer a sanctuary for musicians and an enhanced ecology for the expression of atmospheric music. Bolter also is co-author, with Dr. Viera, of several papers and booklets, including Methods of Effective Practice, High Range Exercises, It's Not All in the Air and Metronome Meditation.
Studies at NEC and Tanglewood Music Center. Trombone with Steven Zellmer, John Swallow. Recordings on Sony, Philips, Angel, Sine Qua Non, Crystal, Nonesuch, Deutsche Grammophon, Columbia, RCA, Telarc, CBS Masterworks, New World, Erato, Air-ev and others. Also faculty of the Longy School.
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