Sunday Night Jazz Showcase
Program #256 (June 23 at 8:00pm)
Sam Pilafian was an internationally renowned tuba virtuoso, perhaps best-known as a founding member of the Empire Brass Quintet (1971-1963).
Pilafian also recorded and performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, and Travelin’ Light, among others.
Pilafian was the recipient of an Emmy for Excellence in Instructional Video Production, the Walt Disney Award, The Walter Naumberg Chamber Music Award, the Harvard Music Association Prize Music Center Distinguished Alumni Award, The Robert Trotter Visiting Professorship at the University of Oregon and the annual Outstanding Teacher Award from Arizona State University.
An educator for 44 years, Pilafian was a faculty mentor to the Stamps Brass Quintet, and served on the faculties of Boston University the Tanglewood Institute, Berklee College of Music and was Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University.
Pilafian was the consultant to the Royal Academy of Music in London and an honorary board of director for the International Tuba Euphonium Association where he recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sam Pilafian passed away on April 6th, 2019 at the age of 69.
(provided by University of Miami)
