The Los Angeles Philharmonic reports that Byron Peebles, a member of the Philharmonic’s trombone section from 1963 until 1999, died on January 16 in Glendale, California. He would have been 86 on January 30. Peebles was hired by Music Director Zubin Mehta in 1963, and went on to serve as principal and associate principal trombone until his retirement in 1999. Born in Granum, Alberta, Canada in 1931, Peebles received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a master’s degree from the University of Southern California, where he was a student of Robert Marsteller. After beginning his career in 1959 with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Peebles was invited by Fritz Reiner to join the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where he played trombone until moving back to Los Angeles. Even after retiring, Peebles and his wife Louise remained huge supporters of the LA Phil and were very active in the Affiliates program. Peebles also taught privately and served on the faculties of USC, Cal-Arts, and Pomona College. A memorial will be held on January 29 at the Sheraton Universal Hotel, in University City, California.
Posted January 23, 2017
