Anthony Maiello '65 B.S., '67 M.S. -- whose many activities include serving as professor of music and director of instrumental studies at George Mason University -- will make two appearances at Ithaca College as the second Colonel Arnald Gabriel '50 HDRMU '89 Visiting Wind Conductor.
Maiello will conduct the Ithaca College Wind Ensemble on Wednesday, December 5, and the concert and symphonic bands on Thursday, December 6. Free and open to the public, the performances will start at 8:15 p.m. in Ford Hall in the James J. Whalen Center for Music at Ithaca College.
The Wednesday concert will feature guest pianist Jennifer Hayghe in Stravinsky's "Concerto for Piano and Winds." Music of Persichetti, Barnes, Wilson, and a current composition graduate student, Roy Magnuson, will also be on the program. Stephen Peterson, the wind ensemble’s regular conductor, will conduct portions of the program.
On Thursday, the bands will feature music of Husa, Reed, Mahr, Bach, Kalinnikov, and others, with Mark Fonder and Elizabeth Peterson sharing the conducting with Maiello.
Col. Arnald Gabriel established the visiting conductor residency in 2006 to bring an accomplished guest conductor from the wind field to campus annually. During the residency, the visiting conductor will provide lectures, meet individually with graduate students in wind conducting, rehearse the three bands and conduct their public performances.
The residency reflects Gabriel's lifelong dedication to wind music. A 1950 alumnus of the School of Music, he received an honorary doctorate from the college in 1989. Four years previously, Gabriel retired from the U.S. Air Force. During his 36-year career, he received three Legion of Merit awards for his service to the Air Force and to music education. In addition to serving as commander/conductor of the internationally renowned U.S. Air Force Band, Gabriel also directed the Air Force's symphony orchestra and the Singing Sergeants. His many other honors include the Ithaca College Alumni Association's Lifetime Achievement Award, presented annually to a graduate who has achieved exceptional professional success.
Maiello, who received both his bachelo's and master's degrees in music from Ithaca College in l965 and l967, respectively, was also honored by his alma mater in 2005 when the college's alumni association presented him with the first Professional Achievement Award. The honor recognizes outstanding achievement by a graduate in his or her chosen profession.
Maiello's many professional credits include clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor of numerous ensembles, which have made appearances throughout North America, Europe, and the Bahamas. He conducted musical activities for the gold medal ceremonies at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, is an honorary conductor of the U.S. Navy Band, and serves as a clinician for Yamaha Music and Warner Brothers Publications.
Currently a Cover Conductor for the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Maiello is an elected member of numerous professional associations, including the American Bandmasters Association, Virginia Jazz Service Organization, and American Symphony Orchestra League.
