About Helicon's Founder
After leaving the performing end of the business, Irwin played a major role in the development of record retailing where he led the expansion of Discount Records, the first national record store chain, which was later acquired by Columbia Records. Discount Records pioneered the concept of having in stock, or immediately available, every classical record. Armed with an intimate knowledge of the tastes and desires of the American consumer, Irwin became a record company executive, first at RCA, Red Seal and then as the head of Artist and Repertoire for classical music at CBS/Sony Classical. As a record company executive, he became deeply involved with the careers of James Galway, Midori, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis and many others. As the focus of classical music segment of the recording industry narrowed, Irwin became concerned that many recordings and new artists were not being made available to the public. Katz founded Helicon/Kleos in 1996 to bring the important recordings and emerging artists to a worldwide audience. Together with his wife, Roselyn Katz, who heads up the Young People's division, Irwin carefully selects the artists and repertoire for the label. All of the recordings bring a unique element to the listener. |
Irwin Katz is one of the most
prominent members of the classical recording industry. A classically trained trumpeter, Irwin received his undergraduate and graduate degrees at
the Manhattan School of Music. In the earliest part of his career he played with numerous orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Symphony, he was a
member of the Cleveland Orchestra where he performed with renowned conductor George Szell and the Agnes De Mille Dance Theatre. He also toured
with the orchestra of the Ballet Russe.