Alex Iles
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Alex Iles is an US trombone and jazz instructor at the California Institute of the Arts and California State University, Northridge.
He appears frequently as a recitalist, guest soloist, and clinician with schools and organizations, including Indiana University, Oklahoma State University, the Disney Magic Music Days Program and his "alma mater", the Disney All American College Band. His successful career in many musical setting arises out of his active involvement in the musically diverse Southern California freelance performing and recording community.
Alex began his musical career while a student at UCLA. He has studied trombone privately with Roy Main, Ralph Sauer, Byron Peebles and Per Brevig. Since graduating from UCLA, he has gone on to become an in-demand trombonist and low-brass performer.
Among the varied palette of artists with whom Alex has performed and/or recorded are: Joe Cocker, Alan Jackson, The Tonight Show, Prince, Harry Connick Jr., The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole, Danny Elfman, Ray Charles, Robbie Williams, Terence Blanchard, Hans Zimmer, Henry Mancini, James Horner, Lalo Shiffrin, Trevor Rabin, and John Williams. He has played in the pit orchestras of numerous Los Angeles Broadway shows including: Chicago, The Lion King, The Producers, Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, and Hairspray.
He has toured as lead and solo jazz trombonist with such legends as Woody Herman and Maynard Ferguson, the later of whom he has recorded with twice.
Today, he performs and records as a regular member of many of the top big bands and jazz groups in the L.A. area including The Tom Kubis Big Band, Bob Florence's Limited Edition, and Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. He has also recorded and performs with the The Bill Cunliffe Sextet and The David Roitstein Group.
He has also performed on The Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, The People's Choice Awards and hundreds of television series and motion picture soundtracks including Polar Express, National Treasure, The Incredibles, Troy, Robots, The Last Samurai, Pirates of the Caribbean, Planet of the Apes, Spider-Man I and II, Alias, Lost, JAG, Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, and Seinfeld.
In the summer of 2001, Alex was one of sixteen trombonists from an international field chosen to participate in a 10 day orchestral/solo seminar hosted by New York Philharmonic Principal trombone virtuoso, Joe Alessi.
In October, 2002 Alex was appointed principal trombonist of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as alto, tenor and/or bass trombonist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The LA Chamber Orchestra, Opera Pacifica, The Pacific Symphony, The Pasadena Symphony, and the Santa Barbara Symphony.
He has also commissioned and/or premiered several new works for solo trombone. He is a Conn/Selmer performing artist and plays King and Conn trombones.
