The Los Angeles Times
Culture Monster is saddened to learn that Steven Witser, the principal
trombonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, died of a heart attack
Monday night. He was 48.
Witser was scheduled to perform in tonight's Chamber Music
concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The concert will go forward, but
the orchestra will not perform the final piece, Stravinsky's "Octet,"
in which Witser was scheduled to play.
The orchestra will dedicate Thursday's concert
in memory of Witser, according to a spokeswoman for the Philharmonic. A
short opening piece (still to be determined) will be performed in his
honor.
Witser joined
the L.A. Phil as principal trombonist at the beginning of the 2007-2008
season. He had previously served as acting principal trombonist of the
Cleveland Orchestra, which he joined in 1989.
The Oakland, Calif., native has taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music and other institutions. He was also a member of Center City Brass Quintet.
Photo: Steven Witser. Credit: Mathew Imaging.