Assistant Principal Trombone of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since 1978, Nathaniel Gurin has been a member of the DSO Brass Quintet and is also a founding member of the DSO Brass Trio.
Born in New York City, he grew up in Valley Stream, New York, and East Lansing, Michigan. His music studies began in the fourth grade on trumpet, but he soon switched to trombone. He continued high school music at the Interlochen School for the Arts, where he earned his diploma. Deciding on a career in music, “Tanny” continued studies at the Eastman School of Music for two years before going to The Juilliard School, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1969. He then went on to the New England Conservatory of Music to work on his master’s degree.
In the late 1960s, Gurin served as principal trombone of the American Symphony Orchestra under Leopold Stowkowski. This was followed by four seasons as principal trombone of the Montreal Symphony and L’Opera du Quebec while performing with the Montreal Brass Quintet. After that, Tanny taught and performed in the Boston area, during which time he played concerts, toured, and recorded with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and worked with the Boston Ballet, the Boston Pops under Arthur Fiedler, and as principal trombone of the Opera Company of Boston under Sarah Caldwell. While in New England, he also taught trombone at the University of New Hampshire.
In his free time, Gurin enjoys spending time with his wife Pat, a violinist and violin teacher. They participate in many outdoors activities including cross-country skiing and cycling. The Gurins have three children: Sara, Daniel and Katharine.