Bill Troiano
Bill Troiano is a well-known tuba player on Long Island. After graduating from SUNY Fredonia in 1973 with a Bachelor Degree in Music Education and The Eastman School of Music in 1974 with a Tuba Performance and Brass Literature Master Degree, Bill Troiano went on to play in ensembles such as The Guy Lombardo Orchestra and The Long Island Tuba Quartet.
Biography
Mr. Troiano began his college career in 1969 at SUNY Fredonia. There, he studied with Rudy Emilson. After graduating Fredonia in 1973 with a BM in MusicAL Education, Bill went on to the Eastman School of Music to study with Harvey Phillips. While he was Eastman, he also learned from Walter Hartley. While at Eastman, Bill lived with famous trumpet player, Allen Vizzutti. Bill graduated Eastman with an MM in Tuba Performance and Brass Literature.
In 1976, Bill landed the tuba position in the world famous Guy Lombardo Orchestra, The Royal Canadians. Bill remained in the orchestra until the death of Guy Lombardo in 1978.
In 1980, Bill began teaching in the Connetquot School District as an 8th grade Band Director. He also taught the Jazz Ensemble. Also in 1980, Bill began chairing the Annual Tuba Day on Long Island. Every year, a guest soloist would come and perform at a large concert of tubas, which would be concluded by a Mass Tuba Ensemble consisting of over 250 tubas and euphoniums. In 1997, Howard Hovey, a beloved tuba player, died. Due to Howards influence on the tuba and on himself, Bill renamed Tuba Day "Howard Hovey Tuba Day". Mr. Troiano retired after the 2006-2007 school year from Connetquot Middle School.Even after retirement, Bill is still teaching students privately and in colleges. He also continues to chair Howard Hovey Tuba Day every year and acts as an Area Coordinator for the annual Tuba Christmas in Rockefeller Center in New York City.
In 1994, 1997, and 2004, Bill Troiano was asked to conduct the All-County Band of the Nassau Music Educators’ Association.
In 1996, Indiana Press published an international reference book titled The Tuba Source Book. Mr. Troiano completed work as the author of the chapter, Recommended Basic Repertoire For The High School Tuba Student.
In 1998, Bill Troiano began an elite student brass ensemble entitled, Students of Music Brass Ensemble (SMI). Brass students from all over Long Island comprised of this ensemble, which Bill conducted. The ensemble played in famous locations such as Shea Stadium, SUNY Potsdam, the Special Olympics, Lincoln Center, West Point and many schools, churches, libraries, and parks all over New York.
Howard Hovey Tuba Day
In 1975, Howard Hovey, a well respected man within the tuba community, organized and ran The SCMEA Octubafest. Mr. Hovey held the SCMEA Octubafest again in 1976. However, the festival did not reprise then following four years. In 1980, the SCMEA President, Pat Burrows, asked if Bill would run a new Tuba Festival for SCMEA. That year, Bill ran another tuba festival as the first SCMEA Octubafest, which featured his former professor as the guest artist, Harvey Phillips.
Bill Troiano has run a successful Tuba Day ever since 1980. In 1997, the original SCMEA Octubafest Chairman, Howard Hovey, died. In honor of Mr. Hovey, Mr. Troiano renamed the SCMEA Octubafest as Howard Hovey Tuba Day. Every year, the program for the event features a photo of Howard with his tuba.
Every year, Bill hires a famous tuba or euphonium player as a guest artist. The guest artist conducts a clinic for the students at the festival prior to the free concert and also conducts the All-Star Ensemble, a small group consisting of advanced student players. Some guests artists have included Harvey Phillips, Pat Sheridan, Howard Johnson, Demondrae Thurman of the Sotto Voce Tuba Quartet, Gale Robertson from the University of Miami, and Allan Baer of the New York Philharmonic.
The Long Island Tuba Quartet
Created in 1986 to perform at the 6th Howard Hovey Tuba Day, the brass quartet consists of two euphoniums and two tubas. Bill Troiano and former student, Jeff Furman, play tuba while Michael Canipe of the Deer Park School District and Don Sherman of East Northport play euphonium. Since 1986, LITQ makes a yearly appearance at the Tuba Festival. The quartet has performed all over New York state, but mostly on Long Island. They've played churches, parks, weddings, private parties, libraries, retirement homes, schools, beaches, and craft fairs. The comedic quartet is guaranteed to provide an entertaining performance. Aside from the often comedic introduction of their next song to be played, the group can surprise you by playing Handel's beautiful "Water Music", then segue into Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein."
Famous Quotes
"The tuba doesn't just go oompa, oompa... It's chromatic like a piano, and once you realize the possibilities, 'whoa.' "
"I live at home with my wife, three children, a dog and two tubas."