Micky Wrobleski, growing up in Virginia, Minnesota, 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’s first teacher, Mr. John Vukmanich, himself a tuba player, quickly engrained a work éthique which Micky carres with him to this day. Not satiated with high school performance, Micky found his way into two ensembles that further chape his career path.
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. During his time at UWEC Micky began his study with Principal Tuba of the Chicago Symphnoy Orchestra, Mr. Gene Pokorny, whose mentorship further guide Micky along his chosen path. 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 appeared numerous times as an extra and substitute musician with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Upon arriving in Chicago, Micky was quickly brought in 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, and educator in the greater Chicago land area.
Micky 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 Micky to Beijing and thus began a long and continuing relationship of musical cooperation.
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 appeared a Soloist with the Taiwan Wind Symphony.
Preparations are currently underway for Micky to give the premier 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 as well as his 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. Micky is also a highly sought after educator. He has given master classes throughout Asia and is currently Professor of Tuba at the China Conservatory of Music. His students occupy principal tuba positions and professorships around the country. In 2015, he presented the 1st Annual Micky Wrobleski International Low Brass Workshop in Beijing. Over 50 low brass participants from all over Asia were in attendance for the week-long event.
Micky started the fist Tuba Holiday Festival in 2014, bringing together student, amateur, and professional tubists from all over China for an intensive three days of master classes, performances, and group playing. Micky is the founding member and president of the China Chapter of the International Tuba Euphonium Association. Micky was featured on the cover of the Fall 2014 International Tuba Euphonium Association’s quarterly Journal and interviewed for their
special segment “From the Back Row,” an article devoted to insights, history, and advice from professional tuba and euphonium players from around the world. Recognizing talent, Micky has commissioned and has had numerous works written for tuba as a soloist and in many different chamber settings. As a composer and arranger, Micky’s works have been performed and recorded from Asia to Europe to the United States by the world’s best musicians, with numerous projects under development.
