Allegro
Requiem
Volume CV, No. 2February, 2005
Joseph Alessi Sr. – Trumpet
Arthur Brickel – Piano
Joe Bushkin – Piano
Tyran Carlo – Percussion
Edillio Caso – Saxophone
Vincent O Clarke – Trombone
Cy Coleman – Piano
Samson Coscia – Bass
Mel Davis – Trumpet/Conductor/Arranger
Samuel Epstein – Violin
William G Faffley – Trumpet
Massimo Freccia – Violin/Conductor
Harold Goltzer – Bassoon
Shirley Greitzer – Piano
Donald J Gulli – Drums
Eddie Hajian – Trumpet
Bill Hamilton – French Horn
Danny J Hayes – Trumpet
Kingsley M Hiller – Piano
Abby Hoffer – Trumpet
Charles D Kelman – Saxophone
Ira Krupenye – Violin
Joseph C La Morte – Drums
Cynthia Lester – Former Local 802 Business Rep
James D Ross Lovelace – Drums
Frederick W Prausnitz – Piano/Conductor
Barney Richmond – Bass
Howard W Rollock – Violin
Louis Rowatti – Bass
Max Sholemson – Piano
George Syran – Piano
George William Winslow Jr. – Saxophone/Arranger/Copyist
Joseph Alessi Sr.
Joseph Alessi, 89, a trumpeter and an 802 member since 1937, died on Dec. 24.
At the age of 11, Mr. Alessi began studying trumpet with his father, who was a professor at the Manhattan School of Music and played trumpet in the NBC Symphony. He received a scholarship to Juilliard, where he studied with Max Schlossberg. After Schlossberg’s death, he continued his studies with William Vacchiano and later with Harry Glanz.
Mr. Alessi earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music and an M.A. from the California State University at San Francisco.
Honorably discharged in 1945 from the Navy after serving in World War II, Mr. Alessi made his career in New York performing with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, the New York City Symphony and Opera (under the direction of Leonard Bernstein), the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the Goldman Band. He also performed with the New York Philharmonic.
Together, he and William Vacchiano designed the Alessi/Vacchiano and the Jo-Ral series of brass instrument mutes.
With his wife, Maria Leone Alessi, a former soprano at the Metropolitan Opera, he moved to Las Vegas in 1959 and performed at all the major hotels. Moving to San Francisco in 1961, he performed for a year with the San Francisco Symphony before embarking on a teaching career. He was a teacher at Aptos Junior High School, City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State University.
He is survived by his wife Maria Leone, sons Joseph and Ralph, sister Margaret, and grandchildren Joseph and Gianna.
Harold Goltzer
Harold Goltzer, 89, a bassoonist and an 802 member since 1934, died on Dec. 4.
As a recipient of the New York Philharmonic Scholarship, Mr. Goltzer studied bassoon with Simon Kovar at Juilliard, where he graduated in 1936. He was a member of the National Orchestral Association, whose faculty he later joined.
In 1937 he became a member of the Columbia Broadcasting Symphony. He recorded with many radio and television orchestras, including Bell Telephone, Firestone, Omnibus, and the NBC Opera among others.
In 1958, Mr. Goltzer became associate principal bassoonist of the New York Philharmonic, a position he held until his retirement in 1983.
In addition to his active performance schedule, Mr. Goltzer was a teacher, serving on the faculties of the Hartt School, Juilliard, Mannes, the Manhattan School of Music and Queens College. He was also a member of the Aspen Music Festival for many summers from the 1950’s into the 1990’s.
Additionally, Mr. Goltzer’s scale studies are practiced by many generations of students worldwide.
He is survived by his brother Albert, sister-in-law Doris, son Eric, daughter Dana Coppolino, grandchildren Alyssa, David, John, Andrea and Elizabeth, great-grandchildren Olivia and Erica, and many nieces and nephews.
Eddie Hajian
Eddie Hajian, 72, a trumpeter and a Local 802 member since 1952, died on Dec. 7.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, Mr. Hajian worked steadily as a club date musician for over five decades. After a two-year stint in the Army, his career took off when he landed a job playing with the Herman Stenzler Orchestra.
In the following years he went on to perform with Lester Lanin, Jerry Kravat, Steven Scott, Alex Donner, Tom Harrington and many others.
Respected by his peers, both young and old alike, he enjoyed a reputation as a consummate professional and first-rate musician, a unique horn player with a warm, enveloping tone and melodic style.
Mr. Hajian’s children have established a memorial fund in association with VH1’s “Save the Music,” an organization which fights to protect music education programs in public schools. Donations can be sent directly to: VH1 Save the Music, Eddie Hajian Fund, Attn: Jennifer Dunn, 20th floor, 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036.
“We ask everyone who worked with him on the club date circuit through the years to cherish their memories of him, as the family will certainly cherish theirs. Big Ed, rest in peace,” wrote Mr. Hajian’s daughter Claudia, in an e-mail to Allegro.
He is survived by his wife Elaine, sister Lillian, son Chris (who is also an 802 member), daughter Claudia, granddaughter Olivia, and daughter-in-law Gail.
Bill Hamilton
William (Bill) Anthony Hamilton, 63, a French hornist and a member of Local 802 since 1964, died on Dec. 1.
Over his career he played with most of the major musical organizations in New York City, taking a couple of years off to play first horn in the Buffalo Philharmonic, and nearly every summer for music festivals in places like Colorado, Cape Cod and New Hampshire.
He was a founding member of the St. Luke’s Chamber Orchestra and played regularly with the Metropolitan Opera, the Long Island Philharmonic, the New York Pops, the American Symphony Orchestra, the New York City Opera and Ballet Orchestras, the Symphony of the New World, the New Jersey Symphony, and the Opera Orchestra of New York.
He played over 35 Broadway shows including the original productions of “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Zorba the Greek,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Oliver,” and “42nd Street.” He also performed on Broadway with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He was a member of the 802 Broadway Theatre Committee
As a studio musician he recorded jingles, soundtracks and albums. He performed and recorded with James Brown at the Apollo Theatre, Petula Clark and Peggy Lee at the Empire Room of the Waldorf, Johnny Mathis, Montovani, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, Carly Simon, and at Radio City Music Hall among many others. Numerous recordings included the soundtrack of “Beauty and the Beast”, an album with King Creole and the Coconuts, and the Wagner Ring Cycle with the Metropolitan Opera.
In the 1970’s he studied chamber music with Claus Adam, the cellist. “The Bohemian French horn,” his solo album, was recorded with members of the Juilliard Quartet in 1975. He was also a member of numerous wind and brass quintets such the Boehm, Carnegie, Wind Bag, Bronx Arts Ensemble, New Amsterdam Ensemble, Apple Brass Quintet, and the Hammar Brass.
When his lung disease began to affect his endurance, he retired from performing in 1990 and embarked upon a new career; “Act 2” he called it. He joined the staff of Local 802, working in the organizing and data processing departments.
He is survived by his wife Georgia Rose, children Jason and Erika Hamilton and stepchildren Ranulf and Calin Lisenbee. A concert in his honor is planned for later this winter.
Ira Krupenye
Ira Krupenye, 82, a violinist and an 802 member since 1946 died on Nov. 24.
During his career, he performed with the New York Pops, Longines Symphonette, Orchestre Chambre de Paris, Monte Carlo Philharmonic, Orchestre Regionale de Provence-Cote d’Azur and the Washington National Symphony. He was the former concertmaster of the Ridgefield (Conn.) Orchestra.
Mr. Krupenye was a teacher for many years. He was also concertmaster of several smaller orchestras and was a first-call violinist in the club date field.
He performed on the soundtracks for many films, including “Arthur,” “Sabrina,” “Stepmom,” “Big Daddy,” “Goodfellas,” and “The Landlord.”
He is survived by his wife Grace, son Peter, daughter Lucy and three grandchildren.
George Syrianoudis (George Syran)
George Syrianoudis, 76, a pianist and an 802 member since 1953, died on Dec. 29.
Mr. Syrianoudis (who was known as George Syran) attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and was a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music.
He played with Billy May, Hal McIntyre, Jimmy Dorsey, Richard Maltby, Cannonball Adderley, Al Cohn, Phil Woods, Lester Lanin, Dick Meldonian, Hal Prince and many others.
Mr. Syrianoudis was the personal accompanist for Buddy Greco, Don Rondo and Morgana King.
He was a U.S. Army veteran and served during the Korean War.
Mr. Syrianoudis is survived by his son, Thomas, sister Virginia Morris, brother Thomas, and granddaughter Kristyn.
George William Winslow Jr.
George William Winslow Jr., 88, a saxophonist, pianist, trumpeter, clarinetist, violinist, guitarist and arranger and an 802 member since 1952, died on Dec. 6.
He attended Wooster College in Ohio after graduating from Jamestown High School in Jamestown (N.Y.).
Besides leading his own band in Chicago named “Smile Awhile,” he arranged and played with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra for more than 20 years, and also played with Ray Herbeck, Blue Steele, Sammy Watkins and Art Kassel. He also collaborated with songwriters and singers.
He played at the Office Supper Club in Newburgh (N.Y.) and Bodles Opera House in Chester (N.Y.) for many years. He was a longtime member of the Monroe Methodist Church Choir and a Life Scout.
He is survived by his sons George, Darryl and Bruce, daughter DeLana Lynn Winslow, sister-in-law Virginia Fine, 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.