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Frank Panella
Biography
Frank Panella (14 January 1878, Pittsburgh, Penn. – 13 May 1953, Crafton, Penn.) was an American composer, primarily of marches, clarinetist and conductor.
Panella began his music career at the age of seven with clarinet lessons given by his brother-in-law, Professor Mario S. Rocereto, who also taught him conducting techniques. During his teenage years, he played in several Pittsburgh theaters. Later, he conducted band concerts in district parks and also taught conducting and clarinet at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Tech College. For a time, he also directed the Grand Army Band and the Westinghouse Air Brake Company Band and served as assistant conductor of Rocereto's Pittsburgh Band.
When Victor Herbert conducted in Pittsburgh, Panella played clarinet under his direction. A member of Local 60 of the Musicians Union for more than 50 years, he also was a member of and personnel manager of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He played clarinet with the bands of Arthur Pryor and Carl Eduarde. During World War I, he was associated with the U.S. Army School of Music.
Frank Panella wrote more that 40 marches and arrangements for band. He founded the Panella Music Company in his home town for the purpose of publishing his own compositions.
Works for Winds
- 8th Regiment March
- Flag of Freedom March
- Leonidas the Spartan March
- On the Square (1916)
- Paramount Overture
Resources
- Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Frank Panella." Accessed 23 March 2016.