On April 1, acclaimed band conductor Frank Battisti appeared with the United States Air Force Band of Liberty’s Concert Band at the 24th Annual New England Intercollegiate Band Festival at Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts. Battisti, founder and Conductor Emeritus of the Wind Ensemble at the New England Conservatory of Music, conducted the Concert Band on Henry Fillmore’s His Honor March and the Eric Whitacre composition October.
The featured instrumental soloists for the evening were Master Sergeant Dave Arnold, trumpet and Airman 1st Class Mike Mannella, trombone on the Joseph Turrin selection Fandango. The Concert Band’s program also included works by Samuel Hazo, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Hiyato Hirose.
Assisting on the podium was 1st Lieutenant Michael Murray, Deputy Commander of the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. The Band of Liberty wishes to offer its deep gratitude to Lt Murray for his outstanding musicianship and assistance on very short notice.
Frank Battisti's teaching career began as an instrumental music educator in the Ithaca City Public Schools in 1953. He was appointed Director of Bands at Ithaca (New York) High School in 1955 and remained in this position until 1967. Under Battisti's direction, the Ithaca High School Band achieved recognition as one of the finest and most unique high school bands in the nation. Eugene Corporon, President-elect of the College Band Directors National Association and Director of Wind Studies at North Texas State University, hails the Ithaca High School Band under the leadership of Frank Battisti “as one of the truly great achievements of instrumental music education in the twentieth century.” At New England Conservatory, Mr. Battisti conducted the Wind Ensemble for 30 years. Under his direction, the group has earned a reputation as being one of the premiere ensembles of its kind in the United States and throughout the world. |
