Allen Vizzutti

Allen Vizzutti's Biography

Equally at home in a multitude of musical idioms, Allen Vizzutti has visited 60 countries and every state in the union to perform with a rainbow of artists and ensembles including Chick Corea, 'Doc' Severinsen, the NBC Tonight Show Band, the Airmen Of Note, the Army Blues and Army Symphony Orchestra, Chuck Mangione, Woody Herman, Japan's NHK Orchestra, the Budapest Radio Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Performing as a classical and a jazz artist, often in the same evening, he has appeared as guest soloist with symphony orchestras in Tokyo, Germany, Slovenia, St. Louis, Seattle, Rochester, Syracuse, Milwaukee, Buffalo, Phoenix, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg to name a few. He has been featured on national television throughout the world, and has had solo performances at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Newport Jazz Festival, Banff Center for the Performing Arts, Montreaux Jazz Festival, the Teton, Vail, Aspen and Breckenridge Music Festivals, the Charles Ives Center and Lincoln Center in New York City.

Allen was taught by his father, a self-taught musician and trumpet player, until he left home to attend the Eastman School of Music on full scholarship. There, he earned Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees, a Performer's Certificate, a chair in the Eastman Brass Quintet faculty ensemble and the only Artist's Diploma ever awarded a wind player in Eastman's history.

While living in Los Angeles during the 80's, Allen performed on over 150 motion picture sound tracks, (such as Back To The Future and Star Trek), as well as countless TV shows, commercials and recordings with such artists as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Chick Corea, the Commodores and Prince. His soaring sound can be heard on such projects as the movies Furry Vengeance, 40 Days and 40 Nights, Unfaithfully Yours, Gridiron Gang, Scary Movie Four and The Hulk, as well as the "Medal of Honor", "Resistance" and "Halo" video games.

From his home in Seattle, Washington, Allen's career activities embody an impressive schedule of recitals, concerts, recording and composing. His continued commitment to music education and the value of music in everyday life results in an extensive schedule of guest appearances at universities throughout the world.

Allen's solo jazz recordings include CDs such as Trumpet Summit and Skyrocket, and his classical CDs include The Emerald Concerto and Other Gems with the Budapest Radio Orchestra, Vizzutti Plays Vizzutti and Vizzutti and Soli On Tour. His High Class Brass is a wonderfully unique classical and jazz blend with collaborator Jeff Tyzik and a 90-piece studio orchestra. Also of interest are Baroque and Beyond, The Carnival of Venus and A Trumpeter's Dream.

As an Artist in Residence, Allen has taught at the Eastman School of Music, the Banff Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas State University, Ohio State University, West Texas State University, the Skidmore Jazz Institute and the Trompeten Akademie of Bremen Germany. His extensive treatise, "The Allen Vizzutti Trumpet Method" and his "New Concepts for Trumpet", have become standard works for trumpet study worldwide. His writing includes solo pieces for flute, clarinet, saxophone, trombone, tuba and harp, as well as chamber groups, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble and symphony orchestra.

Allen's love of expression through composition has led to premier performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Budapest Radio Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic of London, the Nuremberg Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Syracuse Symphony, London Symphony, the renowned Summit Brass and others.

Allen Vizzutti is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

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Allen Vizzutti