John Cerminaro
The best solo horn the New York Philharmonic has had since World War II

"The Marcinkiewicz/Cerminaro model CH EF 5 is the absolute cutting-edge horn mouthpiece of the new millennium."

Testimony

Renowned french hornist, John Cerminaro wrote:
"The Marcinkeiwicz/Cerminaro model CH EF 5 is the absolute cutting edge horn mouthpiece of the new millennium. Designed especially for use with my triple horn, this mouthpiece has the greatest carrying power available today and produces the easiest, largest, concert hall sound achievable.

The Italian word for that special ringing, piercing, power to the sound is known as 'squillo' and that is precisely the word to describe the Marcinkiewicz/Cerminaro model CH EF 5 horn mouthpiece. If you want four octaves, packed with a wallop, loaded with squillo in the sound, the CH EF 5 is the mouthpiece for you. No other model on the market touches this mouthpiece for concert hall power and high range."
-John Cerminaro 2/25/05

"A one-of-a-kind, Marcinkiewicz/Cerminaro model—a thing of beauty, nowhere else to be found in the world! I love it!”
-John Cerminaro

“The new mouthpiece’s first time out is a big hit! …a keeper.”
-John Cerminaro, refering to the following reviews of his performance of Mahler's Fourth Symphony:

• “Principal French horn John Cerminaro’s solos possessed a kind of welcome theatricality and life force.”
  -Seattle Post-Intelligencer Feb 12, 2005
• “Principal horn John Cerminaro got a well-deserved ovation. His extended solos were both expert and eloquent, all that the ear could wish for.”
  -The SeattleTimes Feb 12, 2005

Review excerpts -- John Cerminaro & David Ritt with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra

Everyone played well, but principal French horn John Cerminaro’s solos throughout the work were glorious. His associates in the section did their work admirably. It was a night for the horns, but also all the brass. Those low timpani rolls by Michael Crusoe were magnificent in their subtlety and perfect placement within the ensemble. (http://www.gatheringnote.org/?p=6322)

Speaking of horn calls, no performance of the Fourth can go far without a first horn of the highest caliber: the part is of central importance, and John Cerminaro brought unfailing purity and poetry of tone and phrasing to it. As in the fluent and cogent Mozart performance that opened the evening, the Bruckner found the orchestra responding to Masur's batonless leadership with high artistry and obvious enthusiasm. (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2010742795_symphony09.html)

Biography
Hailed by The New York Times as, "A poised, skillful and technically impeccable performer" and by The American Record Guide as, "The best solo horn the New York Philharmonic has had since World War II," John Cerminaro is widely acknowledged as, "One of the great horn players of our time" (Fanfare).

A native Texan, Mr. Cerminaro made his solo debut with the Dallas Symphony at the age of sixteen, subsequently studying at The Juilliard School, where he was recipient of the coveted Naumburg Award.

In 1969 he joined the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein with whom he received critical acclaim for his performances of the Strauss concerto at Carnegie Hall, the Mozart concertos with conductors Erich Leinsdorf and Pierre Boulez, and Schumann's Konzertstuck with Zubin Mehta.

He stayed with the New York Philharmonic through several music directors, then in 1979 accepted an offer from the eminent Italian conductor Carlo Maria Giulini, who was taking over the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

During his years as principal horn in Los Angeles, Mr. Cerminaro recorded extensively for Crystal Records and appeared as soloist with Andre Previn at the Hollywood Bowl. Many new compositions for solo horn were written for him including works by William Schuman, William Kraft, Rand Steiger, and Henri Lazarof (recently released with the Seattle Symphony on JVC)

An alumnus of the Aspen Music School since 1964 and permanent principal horn of the Aspen Festival Orchestra, Mr. Cerminaro's performances of the Strauss and Gliere concertos with that orchestra have become legendary.

Of his 30th anniversary celebration concert with the Aspen Festival Orchestra, the Denver Post wrote, "John Cerminaro demonstrated the meaning of professional polish with a stunning performance of Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 2."

Mr. Cerminaro played that same concerto with Gerard Schwarz and the Mostly Mozart orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall in New York and Orchard Hall in Tokyo. His recording of all four Mozart concertos with Maestro Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony was released on the Crystal label (CD 515). Formerly a faculty member of The Juilliard School and The California Institute of the Arts, John Cerminaro has been principal horn of the Seattle Symphony since 1996.


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