International Trumpeter, Composer to Present Master Class, Lecture Nov. 7 at Cal Poly

Anthony Plog, a renowned trumpeter, teacher and composer, will present a brass master class and lecture on Friday, Nov. 7, at Cal Poly.

During the master class, at 2 p.m. in Room 216 in the Davidson Music Center, several of the Music Department’s leading brass students will perform and be critiqued.

The lecture, titled “The Successful Student Musician,” is set for 5 p.m. in Room 218 in the Davidson Music Center. It will address how students can achieve success in the music business, including refining the musician's craft in the practice room, setting a positive trajectory, and attaining professional goals.

By the age of 19, Plog was playing extra trumpet with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under conductors such as Zubin Mehta, James Levine, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Claudio Abbado. His first orchestral position was principal trumpet with the San Antonio Symphony, from 1970-73, and was followed by a two-year engagement as associate principal with the Utah Symphony. He left the Utah Symphony in 1976 to pursue a solo and composition career.

While living in Los Angeles from 1976-88, Plog supported himself by playing principal trumpet with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Pacific Symphony. He has recorded several movie soundtracks, including “Star Trek 1,” “Gremlins,” “Altered States,” two of the “Rocky” movies, and more. 
 
Plog has taught at various institutions in the U.S. and around the world, including the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome; Malmo Music Academy in Malmo, Sweden; Schola Cantorum in Basel, Switzerland, the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, CSU Northridge, and USC.

As a composer, his music has been performed in more than 30 countries. He has received numerous grants and commissions, including the National Endowment for the Arts. His exclusive publisher is Editions BIM of Switzerland.

Both the master class and lecture are free and open to the public. They are sponsored by the Cal Poly Music Department, College of Liberal Arts, and the Tevis Fund for Visiting Artists.

For more information, call the Music Department at 805-756-2406.