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Mr. Modell’s first major professional engagement was as first trumpet for
Cornelia Otis Skinner in her one-woman production of “Paris 90”.
Returning from an eight-month tour of this show he was engaged in 1953
to become the principal trumpet with the Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra under H.
Arthur Brown. After four seasons with the TPO, he returned to New York to join
the “Machito” Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra at the Palladium.
In May 1960, maestro Paul Kletzki engaged Mr. Modell as principal trumpet
with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, for the 1960-61 season. Nine seasons
with Dallas and six seasons in Tulsa gave him the opportunity to play under
such great conductors as Solti, Munch, Ehrling, Monteux, Dorati, Previn and
Mancini.
Mr. Modell has a long and wide experience in the field of jazz and has appeared in nightclubs as lead
trumpet for Vic Daxnone, Tony Bennett, Della Reese and Buddy Greco, Julius LaRosa and Bill Eckstine.
His teaching experience dates from 1958 as instructor at Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg and
the University of Tulsa. In 1964 he joined the faculty of SMU before being appointed to his current position
as Professor of Trumpet at Northern Illinois University. Mr. Modell founded the Jazz Ensemble at
NIU which, during his 28 years of tenure, has released thirteen recordings, and performed over 600 con-certs
for more than 600,000 people at high schools, colleges, correctional institutions and public concerts.
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