Zalkind to solo with Wasatch Orchestra

Outside of jazz, trombone players don't normally play front and center. But Larry Zalkind, the Utah Symphony's principal trombonist, will be in the spotlight Sunday when he guest solos with the Wasatch Community Symphony Orchestra. And while it's quite a different gig from what he's accustomed to with the Utah Symphony, Zalkind is looking forward to the concert. "The members of the orchestra are passionate about it and they're very committed," he told the Deseret News. "They work very hard." He said the difference between the first and second rehearsals was dramatic. "It was amazing how much work and practice everyone put in between the two rehearsals."

For Sunday's concert Zalkind will play Gordon Jacob's Trombone Concerto. "I chose it because there are a lot of solos in it for the members of the orchestra," he said. And it's also accessible for everyone. "It's very tonal and melodic." One of Jacob's teachers was Ralph Vaughan Williams and his style is discernible. "You can really hear his influence in this piece." The concerto isn't generally known to most concertgoers, but it's a standard work for trombonists. Jacob, who lived from 1895 to 1984, wrote it in 1955 for Denis Wick, principal trombonist of the London Symphony who premiered it that same year.

Zalkind likes the work. He's played it several times over the years. "I've played it with the Santa Monica Symphony and most recently with the Grand Junction Symphony." That was in 2005, and when he was invited to solo with the Wasatch Community Symphony, he immediately thought of the Jacob concerto. "I thought it was time I took it out and brushed it off."

Rounding out the program will be Jean Sibelius' "Finlandia" and Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 1. Also playing will be the Wasatch Community Symphony Brass.

Even though Zalkind has played with a number of local groups, this will be his first time with the Wasatch orchestra. "My brother Ted is the new music director of the orchestra. He had invited (Utah Symphony principal flutist) Erich Graf to play with them. I asked Erich afterwards how it went and he said, 'You're brother is a really good conductor.' And that sealed it for me."

Zalkind is back in Salt Lake City now after spending last season with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as acting associate principal. "That was a great time," he said about his experience. "I loved going to work every day and working with (music director Gustavo Dudamel)."

And despite all the hype surrounding Dudamel and his rock star status in the City of Angels, Dudamel has won over the orchestra. "He lives up to the hype," Zalkind said. "The musicians all love him and he's very charming and a really nice guy."

Even so, Zalkind is glad to be back in his spot with the Utah Symphony. "It's nice to be home again."

If you go...

What: Larry Zalkind, trombone, Wasatch Community Symphony Orchestra, Theodore Zalkind, conductor

Where: All Saints Episcopal Church, 1710 Foothill Dr.

When: Today (Oct. 31), 7 p.m.

How much: Free

Phone: 801-520-4590

Web: wasatchsymphony.com

e-mail: ereichel@desnews.com