Birth

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June 30, 1941 in Cincinnati, OH

 

Larry Hall was born on August 30, 1940, in the city of Hamlet, North Carolina. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. His father played the guitar and his mother sang in the church choir. Larry began playing the piano at the age of six and later learned to play the trumpet and the French horn. As a teenager, Larry was a member of the high school band and played in local jazz and dance bands. He also studied music theory and composition with a local teacher. After graduating from high school, Larry attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a degree in music education. After college, Larry moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. He played in various jazz and dance bands and worked as a studio musician. In 1964, he joined the New York Philharmonic as a French horn player. He remained with the orchestra for ten years and played under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, and Zubin Mehta. During his time with the New York Philharmonic, Larry also began to perform as a soloist and chamber musician. He played with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the New York Brass Quintet. He also recorded several albums of classical and jazz music. In 1974, Larry left the New York Philharmonic to pursue a full-time career as a soloist and chamber musician. He performed with orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the United States and Europe. He also taught at several universities and music schools, including the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Larry was known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to perform a wide range of music styles. He was particularly admired for his performances of contemporary music and was a champion of new works by American composers. He also recorded several albums of classical and jazz music, including a series of recordings of the music of J.S. Bach. Throughout his career, Larry received numerous awards and honors. He was a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Grant and the Avery Fisher Career Grant. He was also a member of the American Brass Quintet, which was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1998. Larry continued to perform and teach until his death on January 26, 1998, at the age of 57. He was remembered as a brilliant musician and a generous teacher who inspired countless students and colleagues. His legacy lives on through his recordings and the many musicians he influenced.

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