Miguel Rivera, Trombone
Miguel Rivera is currently, a Trombone Professor at The Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, and an S. E. Shire Artist and Clinician. At the age of 25, he was appointed Principal Trombonist of The Barcelona National Symphony Orchestra of Catalonia (OBC) where he performed for five seasons (1989-1993). He premiered in Spain the Creston Fantasy for Trombone and Orchestra and the Frank Martin Concerto for Wind Instruments live for the Spanish National Radio and Television. He toured with the Orchestra to Germany, Czechoslovakia, France, Japan, and South Korea among other countries. Rivera was also Principal Trombonist with The Teatre Lliure Orchestra appointed by Josep Pons his Musical Director and Founder. In Barcelona he also performed with The Gran Teatro del Liceo Opera Orchestra. As Professor in Spain, he taught at The Aula de Música, University Menéndez Pelayo and gave Master Classes and Recitals at The Stomvi Academy and The Cala de Oro Music Festival in Palma de Mallorca.
Before moving to Spain Miguel Rivera was appointed Co-Principal Trombonist of The New World Symphony of Miami, Florida by world acclaimed Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas (1986-1989). With the NWS he performed at The Pacific Music Festival in California and recorded CDs with Argos, RCA, and BMG. In Miami he played under the baton of such luminaries as Leonard Bernstein, Cristopher Eschenbach and Eduardo Mata among others. Rivera was selected to play Principal Trombone at The Kennedy Center Honors Awards Orchestra (2019), the orchestra was made up by ex-New World Symphony Alumni. This orchestra performed for The Honorary Award Winner Michael Tilson Thomas, the concert was broadcasted live on national television
He began his music studies in San Juan, Puerto Rico at The Escuela Libre de Música Ramos Antonini with Antonio Salcedo and continued his musical training at The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the guidance of Keith Brown. He also studied with M. Dee Stewart, Lewis van Haney, and Edwin Anderson. In IU he obtained his BM in Performance and The Performer’s Certificate by unanimous decision. He was later admitted by Janos Starker to the Artist Diploma Program. Rivera continued private studies with Joseph Alessi and attended his Master Classes and Seminars. He also attended Master Classes with Christian Lindberg and Michel Bequet.
He has collaborated as Principal Trombonist with The San Diego Symphony Orchestra and has played with numerous symphony orchestras such as The Naples Philharmonic, The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Evansville Symphony, and The Orquesta Nacional de Costa Rica. He has also played under the baton of Stanislaw Skrovaczewski, Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, Yehudi Menuhin, Sergiu Comissiona, Luis Antonio Garcia Navarro, Valerie Giergiev and JoAnn Falletta among others. He has performed in many countries including The United States, Canada, Portugal, Venezuela, Curaçao, The Dominican Republic, The Us Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Colombia and Italy.
Miguel Rivera won The Puerto Rico Symphony Instrumental Competition and performed The Concertino by Ferdinand David and The Creston Fantasy accompanied by the Orchestra. His studio work has been intense and has collaborated in hundreds of recordings with great artists such as Willie Colón, Luis Perico Ortiz, Ricky Martin, Jerry Rivera, Oscar de León, J LO, Marc Anthony, Placido Domingo, José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé, Gilberto Santarrosa, Daddy Yankee, Lucecita, Cheyenne among others. Thanks to his collaborations on many recordings he has won five Grammy Awards and ten nominations.
Miguel Rivera is an S.E. Shires Artist and maintains a busy schedule doing recitals and master classes throughout many countries. His instrument specifications are, Alessi detachable flare bell, TW47 slide with a dual bore rotor and gold flanged tuning slide.
