Founder of New York Brass Quintet Passes Away

The brass world has lost another legend

Robert Nagel, famed trumpeter of the New York Brass Quintet, passed away on June 5th at the age of 91. Known not only as a performer, Nagel was also an educator, composer and arranger. His education started at the age 8 and eventually attended the Juilliard School of Music for a year before entering the US Army and performing with the West Point Band. After playing with the West Point Band, Nagel went back to Juilliard and completed his degree along with studying at Tanglewood.

Probably one of Robert Nagel’s greatest contributions to music was the founding of the New York Brass Quintet. As a member of this ensemble for over 30 years, Nagel was one of the early pioneers for the modern brass quintet as we know it today. The entire ensemble was a list brass pioneers that included Allen Dean (trumpet), John Glasel (trumpet), Paul Ingraham (french horn), John Swallow (trombone), Harvey Phillips (tuba), and Toby Hanks (tuba).

His influences and contributions to brass music will be sorely missed.

To view his complete obituary, please click here.