Joseph Alessi wasappointed Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic in 1985. Prior to joining the Philharmonic, Mr. Alessi was second trombone of the Philadelphia Orchestra and principal trombone of L'Orchestre symphonique de Montreal. George Curran became the bass trombonist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 2006, and in 2012 took an opportunity to play a season with the New York Philharmonic. Prior to moving to Atlanta, Mr. Curran was a member of the New World Symphony for two years James Markey joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra as Bass Trombone in 2012. He began his career at the age of 20 as Principal Trombone of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and from 1997-2012 he served as the New York Philharmonic's Associate Principal (1997-2007) and Bass Trombone (2007-2012). Denson Paul Pollard began as a bass/tenor trombonist/bass trumpet player with the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in September, 2007, after serving as bass trombonist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic from 2001-2007. Bill Thomas is currently the Second Trombonist in the Tonhalle-Orchester Z�rich. Prior to accepting this position in 2011, he was the Second Trombonist in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Thomas has also been a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, United States Navy Concert and Ceremonial Band in Washington DC, Sao Paolo State Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Symphony. Charlie Vernon began his orchestral career in September 1971 as bass trombonist with the Baltimore Symphony. In 1980 he performed one season with the San Francisco Symphony, before being chosen by Riccardo Muti to play bass trombone with the Philadelphia Orchestra, where he played for five seasons. Charlie joined the legendary brass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1986. Ko-ichiro Yamamoto is the principal trombonist of the Seattle Symphony, Artist Lecturer of the University of Washington School of Music, and trombonist of the Center City Brass Quintet. He formerly was a trombonist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for 10 seasons.