Ross Gershenson, Horn

This is Mr.Gershenson’s 30th season with the Oakland East Bay Symphony. Born in Oakland, he grew up in Albany, California. He attended Albany High School and later Cal State University East Bay studying with David Sprung and David Krehbiel. In the fall of 1976, he joined symphony as the Assistant Horn in the section. In the summer of 1977, he was accepted at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, studying with James Decker. In 1979 - 81, Mr. Gershenson earned a Masters of Music degree in Horn performance at the University of Southern California, studying with Los Angeles studio horn virtuoso Vincent DeRosa. After his studies in Southern California, Mr. Gershenson returned to the Bay Area and to the Oakland Symphony. Since then, he has played at every position in the horn section. Mr. Gershenson currently plays 4th Horn chair in the Horn Section.

Mr. Gershenson has also performed with the San Francisco Opera, the San Francisco Ballet, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony, the Sacramento Symphony, the Oakland Ballet, Opera San Jose and the San Jose Symphony.

During the school year, Mr. Gershenson conducts the bands and chorus at Thornton Junior High School in Fremont. Last spring, his Symphonic Band earned a "Unanimous Superior" rating at the California Music Educators Association Area III Band Festival at

Cal State East Bay. Mr. Gershenson has also served as Musical Director for Newark’s Stage One Musical Theater in “Annie Get Your Gun”, “Music Man” and “Wizard of Oz”.

Mr. Gershenson lives in Fremont with his wife Mishla who is a Jazz singer specializing in jazz standards and Brazilian music. Mr. Gershenson’s second instrument is the Blues Harmonica and from time to time he “sits in” with his wife’s group as well as local blues bands in the Fremont area.