Elayne Jones was timpanist for the New York City Opera beginning in 1949, timpanist of the San Francisco Symphony, played with the New York Philharmonic in 1958 and ended her PAS Hall of Fame career in a San Francisco opera pit in 1998. She should definitely be on the list!
P.S. She is also a Black woman. This quote describes what she overcame. “They didn’t want to hire me because I was black and I was a woman,” she recalls, “and I wasn’t Italian! But Goodman stepped in on my behalf and reminded them that I had played the best audition. Al played the rehearsals of Strauss’s ‘Der Rosenkavalier,’ but I had to play the performance! I think they wanted me to fail. So I sat in the audience during the rehearsals while Al played timpani, and I listened to everything.” In October 1949, Jones was the first black person to play in an opera orchestra, and one of only two women in the pit that night. That performance was the beginning of an eleven-year career with NYCO.
Post by Dave BaylesWho, in your opinion are the greatest timp players of all >time?
Hmmm... what about William Street with the RPO? Or Karl Glassman of the
Toscanini NBC Orchestra?
And let's not forget all my teachers that I have studied with! :)
Danielle
Am I the only one who has heard of Alan Cumberland? Has anyone else?
While I'm at it has anyone ever heard or played David Morby Timpani
Sticks?
Matt
Matt My friend timpanist w/ Milwaukee Ballet highly suggests Morby Mallets- about the only ones he uses. expensive but well worth it.