Per Brevig was the principal trombonist of the Metropolitan Opera for 26 years
NORWOOD, NJ, April 16, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Maestro Per Brevig, DMA, with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Brevig celebrates many years' experience in his profession, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Per Brevig was the principal trombonist of the Metropolitan Opera for 26 years from 1968 to 1994. Norwegian born, he began playing the trombone professionally at age 16 in his native country. After his tenure in the Bergen (Norway) Philharmonic, he moved to New York City, where he was appointed principal trombonist with the American Symphony Orchestra under the legendary conductor Leopold Stokowski. During this period, he also became a first call freelancer in New York.
One of the first trombonists to give full length recitals in New York, he has concertized worldwide as a soloist. He has been a soloist at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with the American Symphony Orchestra, the Aspen Chamber Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Bergen (Norway) Philharmonic, and many other musical organizations worldwide. In addition, he has been featured in several musical premieres and has many commissions and recordings to his credit.
Brevig is also a committed teacher. Beginning with his time at the Metropolitan Opera and continuing to the present, he has been a faculty member of The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and the Aspen Music Festival and School, where a scholarship in his honor has been established. He has also taught at Mannes College of Music and Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. He has taught literally hundreds of students, many of whom hold top performance and teaching positions around the world.
In 1994 Brevig retired from professional trombone performance to embark on an international conducting career. In addition to conducting abroad, he was for many years music director of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. A champion of Scandinavian music, he founded the Edvard Grieg Society, Inc., New York in 1991, where he remains president. He is also a board member of the Edvard Grieg Society of America. In 2018, he was appointed president of the Musicians Club of New York. In addition to these responsibilities, he serves on the advisory boards of Medical Problems of Performing Artists and Musikphysiologie und Musik Medizin and has contributed articles to both publications. His latest publication Reflections on the Art of the Trombone is an important reference book for students and professionals alike.
Brevig has received stellar reviews over the years:
"Per Brevig... shaped the performance [of Rigoletto] artfully."
— The New York Times
"Per Brevig and the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica conveyed an overwhelming reading of Mahler's Sixth Symphony. ... Velvet sound on the strings, smoothness in the wind section, and balance between sections, characterized the performance by Per Brevig and the orchestra who received an ovation by the audience at the end of the concert."
— La Nacion, Costa Rica
"The spectacular performance of the symphonic poem 'Pines of Rome' received loud acclaim from the audience. ...with 'The Pines' Per Brevig and the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica made an overwhelming performance which raised delirium within the audience."
— La Nacion, Costa Rica
"...A finished reading, technically impressive and emotionally charged. ...Brevig had worked out not only Wagner's creative detailing in the orchestration, but had managed also to emphasize the beauties of melody ...whether subtly as in Tristan or flamboyantly as in Lohengrin."
— The Herald Times
It was the occasion for much estimable and rewarding music-making. …the orchestra played expertly under Brevig's authoritative leadership … he led the ensemble with aplomb and incisiveness.
— Musical America
The performance of all these (avant garde) pieces were of high quality and heaped credit upon Conductor Brevig and the orchestra. …By any standard, it all added up to a remarkable evening indeed.
— Musical America
"Brevig was utterly convincing and rewarding."
— The New York Times
"...Orchestra of St. Luke's, conducted by Per Brevig in a compelling concert."
— The New York Times
"Brevig excelled at coaxing lush sonorities ... Brevig paid precise attention to each dynamic shading creating a dense tapestry of sound that I can only call sublime."
— Bloomington Voice, Indiana
Dr. Brevig has been the recipient of many awards and honors. During his years as a student at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra honored him in 1966 with the Henry B. Cabot Award and he was a two time Koussevitzky fellow. While studying at The Juilliard School in New York City, he received the Elsie and Walter W. Naumburg Award every year from 1965 to 1970. He is the only trombonist to have received the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts from The Juilliard School. In 2016, he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Trombone Association in recognition of his distinguished career and of his impact on the world of the trombone. In 1990, King Olav V of Norway awarded him the Royal Medal of St. Olav in recognition of his efforts on behalf of Norwegian music and culture in the United States.
Dr. Brevig is married to Berit Lillian Brevig. They have four children: James Kjetil Brevig: Cardiothoracic Surgeon; Berit Elizabeth Brevig Horner: Psychotherapist; Ingrid Lillian Brevig Adkins: Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Per-Christian Brevig: Managing Partner, Viking Strategic Capital, and 10 grandchildren.
In light of his accomplishments, Dr. Brevig has previously been selected for inclusion in multiple editions of Who's Who in Entertainment. In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Dr. Brevig has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
For more information, visit www.perbrevig.net.
About Marquis Who's Who®
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
# # #