Denis Wick has had for
many years an international reputation as
trombonist, brass teacher and conductor. Having
studied in London at the Royal Academy of Music,
his first professional appointment was in the
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as the second
trombonist. He became principal trombonist of the
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 1952,
leaving in 1957 to join the London Symphony
Orchestra, also as principal trombonist, and
remained there until his retirement in 1988.
During his time with the London Symphony, which
eventually became the longest tenure of a
principal chair in the history of the orchestra,
he played under many of the world’s greatest
conductors.
Despite the demanding schedule of the LSO,
Denis has also been a member of the London
Sinfonietta and, for a short period, the Philip
Jones Brass Ensemble. In addition, he has made
many appearances as a soloist. He has had
concertos written for him by several British
composers; among them, Gordon Jacob, Buxton Orr
and Alun Hoddinott.
His conducting work began at the Guildhall
School in the 1960s and has naturally been
centered on brass and wind ensembles. It also
included for many years an excellent youth
symphony orchestra which has bred generations of
professional players. His own London Wind
Orchestra made prize-winning recordings in the
1970s which have set new standards of excellence
for this kind of ensemble.
Denis has been involved in music education for
many years; having been appointed professor of
trombone at the Guildhall School of Music and
Drama in 1967, he taught there regularly until
1976, continuing to work as a consultant professor
and conductor since that time. Many of today’s
finest professionals studied with him; his
intensely musical yet very practical approach to
teaching is widely respected.
Wick's textbook, Trombone Technique, is
now in its fifth edition and is used worldwide as
the most important publication of its kind, with
translations available in Japanese, German,
Swedish and Italian. Denis Wick is perhaps best
known for his line of brass instrument mouthpieces
and mutes. In 1989, he received the ITA Award and
in 1990 was elected Second Vice President in
charge of international affairs. From 1992 - 1995
he served as president of the British Trombone
Society.
Although now retired from professional trombone
playing, Denis Wick continues to be in demand as a
conductor and for masterclasses worldwide. He was
appointed professor of trombone at the Royal
Academy of Music in 2000 and awarded a fellowship
in 2002. His publishing company, Denis Wick
Publishing, specializes in wind band and brass
ensemble repertoire.
