Georges Mager

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Georges C. Mager (1885-1950) was a French musician, and principal trumpet with the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1919 until his death in 1950. He was originally brought to the Boston Symphony by conductor Pierre Monteux as a violist, reportedly sharing a stand with Arthur Fiedler, and was moved to principal trumpet a year later. Trained in France, he was a student of Merri Franquin at the Paris Conservatory. In addition to trumpet, Mager was also proficient as a flugelhornist, violist and singer. He is credited with being an early pioneer in the use of the modern C trumpet as an orchestral instrument. Mager was on the faculty of the New England Conservatory, and was a teacher to some of the most influential trumpeters of the mid-twentieth century, including Adolph Herseth (who became principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra), Roger Voisin (who replaced Mager as principal trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1952), Bernard Adelstein (who became principal trumpet of the Cleveland Orchestra), and Reynold Schilke (who joined the trumpet section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and later became an important trumpet maker). He was also teacher to jazz trumpeter Leon Merian.

Mager also made important contributions to the trumpet literature through several editions of French solo works, including Guillaume Balay's Petite Piece Concertante, Henri Dallier's Fete Joyeuse, and Georges Hue's Solo De Concert.