Dana Russian, Trumpet
Dana Russian graduated from Lexington (MA) High School in 1975. He then attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1979, with a BA in economics. Torn between a career in music and economics, Dana decided (to the consternation of his skeptical parents) to give freelancing a try and quickly found himself entrenched in the Boston freelance scene. Upon moving to Boston, Dana won auditions with the Opera Company of Boston and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. In 1980 he became a member of the Beacon Brass Quintet, which, in 1983, became the first brass group to win the coveted Concert Artist Guild Award in their then 33-year history.
Dana performs regularly with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, and he has toured all over the world with them. He also appears regularly with the Boston Ballet and the Boston Lyric Opera. Over the years Dana has performed with countless choral groups including the Masterworks Choral, John Oliver Chorale, Chorus Pro Musica, Back Bay Chorale, and Spectrum Singers. He has performed with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, the Portland Symphony Orchestra, the New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra, and as a member of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
Dana joined the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra via audition in 1995 when the principal trumpet position became open, and it has become his favorite performing venue over the last 11 years. Dana is instructor of trumpet at Tufts University and Brandeis University. His hobbies include tennis and golf, and he is an avid skier. He is also a car enthusiast, who likes to repair and modify his cars; he regularly takes his old BMW to the racetrack for autocross and high performance driving schools.
Dana married his college sweetheart, Christine, in 1983. They live in Winchester with their daughter Katie (17), a pianist, and son Gregory (14), who is (surprise!) a trumpeter.