Last Stop, Carnegie Hall: New York Philharmonic Trumpeter William Vacchiano

Acknowledgments

xvii Acknowledgments researching and communicating the life and career of Bill Vacchiano has touched me both musically and personally. i did not realize the number of individuals and organizations with which i would become so familiar over the years in preparing this book. a task this monumental would not be possible without the specific assistance of others. a resource that i could not exhaust was the new York philharmonic archives where richard Wandel and the rest of the staff patiently answered an endless number of questions and provided valuable information to ensure accuracy and authenticity of Bill’s story. i would also like to thank Jeni Dahmus and ray Mase from The Juilliard school for their help in providing detailed information regarding Bill’s collegiate and teaching careers at Juilliard. Many thanks goes to allan Colin of Charles Colin Music publications for his generosity in providing me with the entire Vacchiano music catalogue published by Charles Colin, as well as selected issues of the new York Brass Conference for scholarships Journal. a special thanks to phyllis stork from stork Custom Mouthpieces who kindly offered illustrations for the mouthpiece portion of this book—Bill’s favorite topic. on a personal level, i have had the privilege of working closely with a number of people i would have otherwise never met. to Lee soper, whose tenderness and reverence for Bill was contagious and inspirational on a regular basis. to my mentor, colleague, and friend, David Hickman, for his guidance and constant support that continues to accompany me. two individuals who have been supremely important are Jo ann Vacchiano and anne Hardin. The kindness and affability of Jo ann xviii aCKnoWLeDgMents mirrors that of her father, and facilitated the continuation of my research after his passing. The hours we spent discussing her father’s life and perusing pictures will forever be a fond memory. anne Hardin, former editor of the international trumpet guild Journal, has been a tremendous help in steering me through the indepth process of publishing Bill’s biography. From our first conversation i could tell we would not only be wonderful colleagues, but also life-long friends.Her detailed expertise,keen perceptions,and southern charm cultivated assurance when i needed it most. This book would not have been possible without the supervision of Karen DeVinney and the University of north texas press. Thank you for making Bill’s dream and mine a reality. to my parents and family for their unparalleled love and care for me and my endeavors. The interest and curiosity with which they followed this project has encouraged me more than they realize. to my loving and patient wife Kristin for her endless confidence in me. i wish to thank the multitude of Vacchiano students and colleagues who assisted me in my research. it has been a wonderful pleasure to get to know each of you and to view Bill through your eyes. i am amazed at the number of times i heard the phrase, “Bill was like a father to me”—and i now know why. May you always cherish his genuine musical parenting and pass it on to future generations. as a tribute to Bill’s teaching legacy and his dedication to his students , The Juilliard school established the William Vacchiano award in trumpet in 1991. This award grants scholarships to talented young trumpet players studying at Juilliard. Contributions can be sent to Ms. tori Brand,Manager of scholarship Development,The Juilliard school, 60 Lincoln Center plaza, new York, nY Usa 10023, or call (212) 7995000 , ext. 692. Finally, i’d like to thank Bill Vacchiano, who so willingly gave his knowledge and ability to thousands of trumpet players, and who trusted me to tell his story. Bill humbly showed us all the meaning of being a xix aCKnoWLeDgMents consummate musician, full of personal and professional integrity. it was not only his musicianship that made him successful and influential, but also his strength of character and dedication to each individual. Bill was a true teacher whose impact will continue to be felt through his students for generations to come. Brian a. shook January 2011 This page intentionally left blank. ...