Russ Anixter started as a copyist when the work still required pen and ink and made the transition to computer 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. 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 Hippie Big Band includes varied material from The Grateful Dead, Miles Davis, Weather Report, Little Feat, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and some jazz classics occasionally fusing together the disparate styles.

Russ has had performances of his compositions 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 now plays electric bass in The Ward Hill Boys, a Grateful Dead influenced country band.

Russ is Co-Vice Chair of ASMAC-NYC and former Chair of Local 802 Music Copying Committee.