Brian Frederiksen

Windsong Press

Brian Frederiksen was born into a family of flute players as his mother and aunt were the flute section of the Albany (NY) Symphony. Eventually, he began playing the tuba when eleven years old. He he graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy, the American Conservatory in Chicago (BM), and Northwestern University (MM).

During his studies in Chicago beginning in 1973, he started a long relationship with Arnold Jacobs. Besides being the legendary tubist of the Chicago Symphony (1944-1988), Jacobs was the teacher recognized as the expert on breathing for wind instruments.

During twenty-five years with Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Frederiksen was a student and then his assistant with masterclasses, first at Northwestern University and then throughout the country. He wrote Arnold Jacobs: Song and Wind, and formed WindSong Press Ltd. carrying books, CDs, music and breathing devices. After Mr. Jacobs passed away, he worked with the Jacobs family to preserve the Jacobs legacy for future research by creating the Arnold and Gizella Jacobs Collection. www.windsongpress.com was created as the web’s most complete source about Arnold Jacobs.

Mr. Frederiksen brought Mr Jacobs’ masterclasses back through Arnold Jacobs Almost Live, a series of ten presentations featuring videos from Mr Jacobs’ classes creating a new generation of Jacobs students. Arnold Jacobs Almost Live has been featured at a number of conferences including the National Flute Association, International Horn Society Austrailia’s Melbourne International Festival of Brass, regional and international conferences of the International Tuba Euphonium Association and various universities including three day continuing education classes.