Micky Wrobleski was appointed Principal Tuba of the Beijing Symphony Orchestra in 2003 by the Orchestra’s Music Director and Principal Conductor, Maestro Tan Li Hua.
Micky began his musical training not on the tuba, but on the saxophone at the age of 12 years old. Two short years later, Micky switched to the tuba, a decision that would change the rest of his life.
Growing up in Virginia, Minnesota (the heart of Northern Minnesota’s Iron Range) there were very few musical outlets outside of the high school band, orchestra, and choirs. Micky participated in all three ensembles while at the Virginia Secondary School. Not satiated, Micky found his way into two professional ensembles within two years of beginning his study of the tuba. The first was as performing tuba with the Mesabi Community Orchestra, an orchestra comprised of local musicians in the greater Mesabi area, under the direction of Dr. Christine Moroni. Micky also became a member of the Twin Ports Wind Ensemble, a wind ensemble composed of professional musicians for all across Minnesota and Wisconsin, led by renowned
composer and conductor, Dr. Timothy Mahr.
Micky began his college career studying with Dr. Jerry Young at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. While at UWEC, Micky continued gathering experience in all areas as a soloist, chamber musician, composer, orchestral and wind band musician, and educator. Micky was a part of several recording sessions with the UWEC Wind Symphony of Ragtime Music, directed by Dr. Donald S. George,with the UWEC Wind Ensemble of a live recording of music, directed by Dr. Todd Fiegel, as well as with the UWEC Jazz band, Jazz 1, Directed by Robert Baca.
Before graduating from UWEC, Micky was appointed a member of the 451st Army Reserve Band, and, in 1997, Micky was appointed Principal Tuba of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the training orchestra of the World-Renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
While in Chicago, in addition to his duties with the Civic Orchestra, Micky has appeared numerous times as an extra and musician substitute with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Upon arriving in Chicago, Micky was quickly brought to work as Principal Tuba of the
Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, Conducted by Chicago Symphony Principal Trombone, Jay Friedman, Principal Tuba of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Stephen Alltop, Conductor, Principal Tuba of the Illinois Philharmonic, Carmen DeLeone, Conductor, Principal Tuba of the Wheaton Municipal Band, Dr. Bruce Moss, Conductor, and as Instructor of Low Brass and Chamber Music Coach of the Merrit School of Music. When not working with various orchestras or educational institutions, Micky was an active chamber musician, composer, and recording artist in the greater Chicago land area.
Micky’s life was forever changed when he was invited to join the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra in 2002, by then Music Director, Hu Yong Yan. Time in Shanghai was short, as Maestro Tan Li Hua, of the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, quickly invited him to Beijing
and that was to be the beginning of a long relationship of musical cooperation.
Since arriving in Beijing, with the help and support of Maestro Tan Li Hua, Micky has become a
staple member of the classical music and brass community by constantly breaking down barriers, dispelling stereotypes, and opening people’s eyes to the expressive and sonic capabilities of the tuba.
Micky has performed with the Beijing Symphony on stages around the world, and as a soloist with the orchestra, performing the Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra by American Composer, John Williams. Micky has performed with orchestras as a substitute or extra musician with orchestras throughout China, Korea, and the United States and he has appeared a Soloist with the Taiwan Wind Symphony. Preparations are currently underway for Micky to give the premiere of a new Concerto for Tuba by the Chinese composer Wang Xi Ling.
Micky maintains a rigorous schedule of rehearsing and performing with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, teaching private students and students at the China Conservatory of Music, giving recitals, performing in brass chamber music, composing, and arranging. In addition to all of this, he has been the First-Call Tubist for every major recording studio in Beijing. He can be heard on hundreds of recordings for television, radio, education, dance, pop, and movies.
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