Sections of the BSO: The Brass
The BSO brass section provides a bold foundation for the orchestra and many of its members have gone on to influence brass history. Vincent Bach, who played in the trumpet section for one season in 1914-1915, later founded a renowned brass instrument company, collaborating with another BSO trumpet player, Georges Mager, to create the large bore C trumpet used in American orchestras today. Another brass member, Kauko Kahila, worked with the Reynolds trombone maker to create a bass trombone capable of performing the glissando in Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra, expanding the range of his instrument. And when not performing, many musicians found time to pursue other pastimes: for example, horn player Heinrich Lorbeer was a swimmer and trumpet player Roger Voisin collected autographs.
BSO trombone section backstage: John Coffey (bass), Josef Orosz, Lucien Hansotte, and Jacob Raichman (principal), ca. 1950
Photographer unknown
Early Years
Close-up of trumpet section during the 1914-1915 season of the BSO
Vincent Bach (circled), Louis Kloepfel, Joseph Mann, Gustav Heim (principal). In 1918, Bach founded the Vincent Bach Company which still manufacturers premium brass instruments today. He developed a relationship with Georges Mager (BSO principal trumpet 1920-1950) and in 1943, the two of them developed the large bore C trumpet that, after some modifications, would become the American symphony orchestra standard today.
Photographer unknown
The Brass Choir of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1921
Standing left to right: horn players William Gebhart, Heinrich Loorbeer, Max Hess, and F. Hain; trombonists LeRoy Kenfield and Anton Mausebach; and trumpeter Gustav Perret. Sitting, left to right: tubist Euguene Adam; trumpeter Joseph Mann; principal horn George Wendler; principal trumpet George Mager; principal trombone Carl Hampe; trumpeter Louis Kloepfel; and horn player C. Van Den Berg.
Photograph by Carl J. Horner
BSO horn player Heinrich Lorbeer in bathing clothes
Lorbeer’s remarkable stamina enabled him to play in the BSO’s French horn section from 1891 to 1937. He was said to be a strong swimmer.
Photographer unknown
Georges Mager, BSO principal trumpet (1920-1950)
Photograph by Carl J. Horner
Georges Mager’s Student Medals
Georges Mager played viola with the BSO for one year before becoming principal trumpet in 1920. This versatility in Mager’s musicianship can be seen in the medals he won as a student in France (at the Academie de Musique, Ville de Tourcoing, and the Conservatoire National de Musique et Declamation). Not only did he win first prize in cornets and trumpets, but he also took home prizes for violin and solfege. (Gift of Boyd Herforth and Colin Herforth, 2014)
BSO principal trombone Johannes Rochut (1925-1930) and his children
Reproduction of article in the Boston Sunday Post, October 11, 1925
Eugène Adam (BSO tuba and trombone, 1919-1947)
Reproduction of sketch by Gerome Brush
On Record
Listen
"Nearer, My God, to Thee" by the BSO Trombone Quartet.
Digitized from 1906 acoustical recording by Howard Knapp, hosted on the website of Doug Yeo, former BSO trombone (1985-2012).
Mid-20th Century
Roger Voisin (BSO trumpet, 1935-1973; principal trumpet, 1950-1965)
Photographer unknown, gift of Roger Voisin, 2001
Autograph by Serge Prokofiev addressed to BSO trumpet player Roger Voisin, 1937
The composer included an excerpt of his Scythian Suite.
Gift from Roger Voisin, 2001
Autograph by Dmitri Mitropoulos addressed to BSO trumpet player Roger Voisin, January 21, 1937
The conductor included an excerpt from Debussy's La Mer. Mitropoulos conducted the BSO on January 22 and 23, 1937, although they did not play La Mer at those concerts.
Gift from Roger Voisin, 2001
Kauko Kahila (BSO bass trombonist, 1952-1972)
Photographer Unknown
BSO bass trombonist Kauko Kahila’s Contempora trombone, made by Roth-Reynolds
Kahila worked with the Reynolds instrument manufacturer to create a modified trombone that could play the B necessary to properly execute the glissando in Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra. He was one of several bass trombonists of the period trying to solve the problem of adding a second valve to the instrument.
Contemporary Years
BSO French horn player Rachel Childers demonstrates the French horn at a BSO Family Concert event on March 10, 2018
Photograph by Aram Boghosian
The Boston Symphony brass section on stage at Symphony Hall in April 2025
Back row, left to right: Phil Snedecor (extra trumpet), Ben Wright (trumpet), Tom Rolfes (principal trumpet), Toby Oft (principal trombone), Vicki Garcia (extra trombone), Stephen Lange (trombone), James Mackey (bass trombone), Mike Roylance (tuba).
Second row, left to right: Devin Gosset (extra horn), Rachel Childers (horn), Jason Snider (horn), Gus Sebring (principal horn), Austin Ruff (assistant principal horn).
Photograph by Robert Torres