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Elliot Chasanov

Associate Professor of Trombone

B.M. (trombone), University of Illinois; M.M. (trombone performance and brass pedagogy), Youngstown State University (OH) and the Catholic University of America (Washington, D.C.)

Now in his third decade at the University of Illinois, Elliot Chasanov was appointed Professor of Trombone with permanent tenure in 1991. Chasanov began his musical studies at an early age as a cellist, starting the trombone shortly thereafter. Prior to coming to UIUC, Professor Chasanov was principal trombonist and trombone soloist of the United States Air Force Band and Orchestra in Washington, D.C. (1981-1985) and professor of trombone and euphonium at Kent State University (1985-1991). His teachers include Frank Crisafulli, Robert Gray, Vern Kagarice, Edward Kleinhammer, Alan Kofsky Richard Schmitt and Milt Stevens. In 1985, at the invitation of the composer, he performed the world premiere of Frigyes Hidas’ Baroque Concerto for alto trombone and strings at the 1985 International Trombone Workshop in Nashville, TN. In review of his performance, The International Trombone Journal wrote ”his sound might have been described as embroidered velvet-a dark tapestry, richly enhanced by brilliant reflecting surfaces…..The natural flow of the phrase directly confronted the perpetual dilemma of coupling a singing style with reacting control of movement." In 1989, at the invitation of Frank Tichelli, he premiered Tichelli’s Concerto for Trombone, duo pianos and percussion in San Antonio, TX. Mike Greenberg of The San Antonio Express-News wrote “in performance of this intense, virtuosic work… Trombonist Elliot Chasanov was a splendid soloist both technically and interpretively.” Chasanov has presented recitals and master classes throughout the United States, Canada, England, and Europe. In Poland, he was featured guest artist at the 2000 and 2009 Warsaw Trombone Festivals and Judge of the 2nd and 5th All-Poland Trombone Competition. Professor Chasanov hosted the 1997 International Trombone Festival at the University of Illinois and has served on its faculty four other times. Under his direction, the UI Trombone Choir was the 1993 winner of the ITA's Emory Remington International Trombone Choir Competition and has performed at the MidWest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, IMEA, Montreal Music Festival, Festival Launediere, and on numerous US tours. He served as trombone faculty at The International Music Festival at Duzniki Dzroj in Poland in the summers of 2000 and 2001. In December 2001 he was featured as trombone soloist with the Polish National Philharmonic-Bialystok and presented a solo recital in Florianka, Krakow's famed chamber concert hall. In late 2002, Professor Chasanov was a faculty artist at the Polish Brass Symposium and guest artist at the Warsaw Academy of Music. In Summer 2010 he was featured trombonist at the First Metropolis Brass Symposium in Bournem Belgium. In the United States, Professor Chasanov has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Ballet, Cleveland Opera, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, and Metropolitan Brass Quintet. In addition to presenting solo recitals world-wide, he currently performs with the Illinois Brass Quintet and as a regular substitute with the Milwaukee Symphony. His students hold positions with major orchestras in the US and abroad, teach at universities, perform in military bands, and freelance in major metropolitan areas worldwide. His many arrangements for trombone choir, brass choir, brass quintet, solo brass, and wind band are published by Metropolis Music in Belgium as part of “The Elliot Chasanov Brass Series." He has been involved in instrument and mouthpiece design with brass makers including Bach, Conn, Kuehnl and Hoyer, Yamaha and Greenhoe Trombones.

Teaching Philosophy
My main focus is to help students to excel as musicians by developing their skills of musical interpretation. As in any language, fluency must first be achieved before expression can be developed. Fluency on trombone is grounded in solid fundamentals of tone production, technique, and intonation. With fundamentals solidified, students are exposed to vocal literature including lieder and art songs in order to help them gain insight into both phrasing and breathing. All students are encouraged to broaden their expertise in all areas of trombone performance.