Trumpeter, Teacher William Vacchiano Dies | Teachers College Columbia University

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Trumpeter, Teacher William Vacchiano Dies

Trumpeter and Julliard professor William A. Vacchiano died Sept. 19 of natural causes at Cabrini Medical Center in Manhattan. He was 93. Vacchiano was a noted musician and instructor, having taught jazz greats including Wynton Marsalis, Miles Davis, Mercer Ellington, Gerard Schwarz, Philip Smith and John Nelson. Vacchiano’s students have been in practically every major orchestra in the United States, including many first-desk and section players of Lincoln Center’s orchestras.
Trumpeter and Julliard professor William A. Vacchiano died Sept. 19 of natural causes at Cabrini Medical Center in Manhattan. He was 93. Vacchiano was a noted musician and instructor, having taught jazz greats including Wynton Marsalis, Miles Davis, Mercer Ellington, Gerard Schwarz, Philip Smith and John Nelson. Vacchiano's students have been in practically every major orchestra in the United States, including many first-desk and section players of Lincoln Center's orchestras.

Throughout his teaching career, which spanned from 1935 to 2002, Vacchiano taught at Juilliard, Teachers College, Mannes College of Music, Manhattan School of Music and the City University of New York-Queens College. He once estimated that he had taught about two thousand trumpet students throughout his career. Vacchiano received an Honorary Doctor of Musical Arts in 2003 from Juilliard.

Vacchiano is survived by his daughter, JoAnn Vacchiano; his daughter-in-law, Barbara Vacchiano; and four grandchildren. His son, Ralph, and wife, Ethel, predecease him.

This article, written by Jaime Ryan, appeared in the September 23rd, 2005 publication of Jazz Times.

Published Tuesday, Sep. 27, 2005

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