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Trombonist Marsteller Receives
Lifetime Achievement Award
 The International Trombone
Association recently announced
that the late Robert Marsteller, former
principal trombonist with the
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Orchestra, has received the
Lifetime Achievement Award.
Marsteller was principal trombonist
of the L.A. Philharmonic for
25 years. When he retired, he
became head of the music department
at USC.
Several years ago, the
International Trombone Association
established a Marsteller
Scholarship, which is awarded
annually to an outstanding trombonist.
There is also a Marsteller
Scholarship Award presented at the
Honors Convocation at USC, and an
annual Brass Award in his name presented
to a graduating senior at La Cañada High School.
For the new Prayer Chapel at
the La Cañada Presbyterian Church, Marsteller’s widow, Lorraine,
donated funds for the purchase of a
new piano in memory of her husband,
With the help of the Clipper
Club of the Church.
After graduating from the
Eastman School of Music in
Rochester, N.Y., Marsteller played
trombone in the Washington, D.C.,
Symphony Orchestra. He then
served two years in the Navy Band
in San Diego and Adak Island in
Alaska during the war. When the
war ended, he successfully auditioned
for Alfred Wallenstein for the
first trombone position with the Los
Angeles Symphony Orchestra.
Wallenstein commissioned Paul
Creston to compose the “Fantasy for Trombone” for Marsteller. He
soloed frequently with this composition
and other solos with bands
and orchestras. He loved to assist at
music camps and taught at the
Idyllwild Music Camp. He travelled
around the world for nine weeks
with the L.A. Philharmonic with
Zubin Mehta as conductor.
As a Hollywood studio musician, Marsteller played trombone
for many motion pictures, including
“Ben Hur,” “The Ten
Commandments,” “Spartacus,”
“The Music Man,” “West Side
Story,” “Around the World in 80
Days” and many others.
For several years, he recorded
for the Hallmark Theater. For two
years, he was conductor of the
Harbor Symphony in San Pedro.
He taught trombone, euphonium
and tuba at USC, and many of his
pupils have become professional
musicians or are teaching at high
schools or colleges.
Marsteller wrote and published
two method books for trombone,
“Basic Routines” and “Advanced
Technique.” These and several
arrangements of solos are published
by Southern Music Company in San
Antonio, Texas.
Marsteller died at the age of 56.
Forty-eight brass players who
attended his funeral service at the
La Cañada Presbyterian Church
paid tribute by performing music of
Bach, Beethoven and Bruckner.
After his death, Dr. Richard
Bing composed a requiem in Marsteller’s memory, which was
later performed in Pasadena.
Robert Marsteller is survived by
his wife, Lorraine; son Loren, a professional
musician who teaches and
performs regularly; daughter
Marlys, flutist, teacher, and founder
and director of the Foothill Summer
Musical Theatre; and son Duane,
who continues to play with the
Caltech Concert Band.
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