ABOUT RUSS

Russ Anixter started working as a music copyist when the work still required pen and ink, and made the transition to computer music copying when the Mac still had those very small screens with very little memory. He has been a music copyist in NYC for over 30 years. As a partner at Anixter Rice Music Service he has supervised music preparation for countless Broadway shows, regional theater, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, live concerts and recordings. Notable theater projects include all of the Disney musicals on Broadway, Wicked, and Jersey Boys.

Originally from San Francisco, Russ holds a Masters degree in Jazz/Commercial Composition from Manhattan School of Music where he was a student of Manny Albam and Richard Derosa. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Relations from California State University at Chico.

The Russ Anixter Hippie Big Band features Russ’ arrangements for an 11 piece ensemble. Music for the eclectic Hippie Big Band includes material from The Grateful Dead, Miles Davis, Weather Report, Little Feat, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and some jazz and funk classics occasionally fusing together the disparate styles.  

As a composer, Russ has had performances of his music by the Queens Symphony Orchestra, The Broadway Chamber Players, and the Alfred Loeffler New Music Composium. Art of Sound Music, in Princeton, NJ, publishes Russ’ arrangements for brass ensembles and other chamber groups.

In his San Francisco days, Russ played trombone, bass trombone and tuba in several big bands and performed throughout the Bay Area. He occasionally plays electric bass in The Ward Hill Boys, a Grateful Dead influenced country band on Staten Island.

Russ is a sitting board member of the American Society of Music Arrangers and composers.

Anixter Rice Music Service was started in 2004 by Russ Anixter and Don Rice, both experienced musicians and music copyists. Anixter Rice has prepared music for countless Broadway shows, regional theaters, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, recording sessions and live performances.

 Music Preparation Projects include: 

  • Broadway shows:

  • Tommy Revival

  • Lempicka

  • Oklahoma - two different revivals.

  • Aladdin

  • Frozen 

  • Escape to Maragarittaville

  • Sister Act

  • Leap of Faith

  • Wonderland 

  • How To Succeed In Business (2011 revival)

  • Elf 

  • Little Mermaid 

  • Young Frankenstein 

  • A Tale of Two Cities 

  • Gypsy Patti Lupone Revival

  • The Drowsy Chaperone 

  • Jersey Boys  

  • The Pajama Game Harry Connick, Jr, Revival

  • Tarzan 

  • Little Women 

  • Dracula 

  • Little Shop of Horrors

  • Wicked

  • The Producers

  • Tom Sawyer

  •  Kiss Me Kate Revival

  • Titanic

  • Harlem Song

  • Flower Drum Song Revival

  • The Sound of Music Revival

  • The King and I Revival

  • How To Succeed in Business Revial

  • The Scarlet Pimpernel

  • Beauty and the Beast

  • The Music Man Revival

  • Footloose 

  • 42nd Street Revival

  • Street Corner Symphony

  • On The Town Revival

  • Once Upon A Mattress 

  • The Boys From Syracuse Revival

Major Motion Pictures or TV

  • Schmigadoon

  • Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead 

  • The Producers Movie (2005)

  • Noel 

  • S.W.A.T

  • Fargo

  • Interview With The Vampire

  • Bye-Bye Birdie (Made for TV)

  • Mixed Nuts

  • Rob Roy

  • Joe’s Apartment

  • The Hudsucker Proxy

  • Snake Eyes

  • Femme Fatal

  • Marvin’s Room

  • Smoke

  • Tom and Huck

  • The Birdcage

Other projects and artists:

  • Radio City Christmas Spectacular

  • PBS Great Performances at 50

  • Kennedy Center Honors 2010 

  • BBC Celebrates Disney 

  • Oregon American Music Festival 

  • TONY Awards Broadcasts

  • New York Pops

  • The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

  • New York Metropolitan Opera

  • New York City Ballet

  • Jazz at Lincoln Center

  • The Gil Evans Orchestra

  • The Mingus Big Band

  • Billy Taylor

  • Joe Lovano (Celebrating Sinatra)

  • Jim McNeely Tentet

  • Manny Albam Big Band

  • Harry Belafonte

  • Gladys Knight

  • Kristin Chenoweth

  • Chita Rivera

  • Bette Midler

  • Barbara Cook

  • Patti LuPone