In memoriam: Alex Wilson

Alex Wilson, the first trumpeter to record the Hindemith Trumpet Sonata passed away at the age of 91 in July 2015. His love of music guided his entire life.

He began studying trumpet as a child in Salt Lake City, and he earned his diploma in music from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Wilson went overseas in WWII playing trumpet in an air force band. When he came back to the US, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music. At the 2011 ITG conference, Minnesota Orchestra principal trumpet Manny Lauriano introduced Alex Wilson before performing the Hindemith trumpet sonata, introducing him as the first person to record the work, which he did with pianist Theodore Lettvin.

In his career, Wilson performed with many different people and groups, including the Robert Shaw Chorale and the Ringling Bros. Circus. He was principal trumpet of the Buffalo Philharmonic for eleven years. He taught music in Seneca, NY and became the Music Director for South Philadelphia High School. All the while, he enjoyed performing with and leading bands and orchestras and teaching private trumpet lessons. According to his wife Marguerite, "the obituary does not begin to list everything he did during his career, but I can state with confidence that his greatest joy was teaching." Wilson retired to Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is survived by his wife Marguerite, children Sascha, David, Anatole, step-daughter Terry, and grandchildren Alicia, Tiffany, Nichole, Lance, Patrick, Martha, Laura and Emily.

Sources: Marguerite Wilson, SunsetFuneralServices.com