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The
Music Man
Irvin
L. Wagner
If
a person ever had the goal of sharing
himself and his music with the world, Irvin
Wagner has accomplished about as much as is
possible.
From conducting major orchestras to
directing young musicians in schools, from
playing the trombone at the highest artist
level to communicating with people in a
nursing home, from serving as President of
the International Trombone Association to
playing the spoons for children, from
performing for the Pope and Presidents to
giving concerts in hospitals this man has
given joy to literally millions around the
globe.
Born
on snowy Valentine's Day in a rural
farmhouse on the Kansas prairie, he started
his musical life journey by joining his
parents in family singing.
His father, Orval, recalls standing
him on a chair at the age of 5 in
order for the audience to see him when the
family sang various programs.
From those experiences music became a
part of the passion he has shared with
audiences the world over whether it is
playing jazz, playing classical music,
conducting, doing research on old music,
writing music, or teaching.
The
Republic Of China, the International
Trombone Association, the State of Oklahoma,
and others have given him many awards for
such as his performances for the Pope in
Rome, for four Presidents of the United
States, and for his television and radio
appearances to more than a quarter of the
population of the world.
Irv,
as he is affectionately called, has played
the trombone everywhere from New York and
Moscow to Kazakhstan and China, has
conducted orchestras
from Venice to Australia, has
provided written music
from transcribed manuscripts of old
trombone music to arrangements of "pop"
tunes for symphony orchestra, and has shown
that music is to be shared and enjoyed from
young to old and from rich to poor.
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