Festival founders Foreman, DiMartino honored
By CHARLIE COX
charles.cox@wku.edu
 Vince DiMartino was inducted into the Great American Brass Band Festival Hall of Fame Saturday. (Clay Jackson photo) |
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The Great American Brass Band Festival welcomed two new members into its Hall of Fame during Saturday night's picnic, inducting founders and guiding lights Vince DiMartino and George Foreman.
"Their work, both initially and continuing, has been an integral part of what makes the festival work," said John Albright, chairperson of the festival steering committee. "Their idea, their desire is why the festival is what it is."
Albright continued, "They're two mothers and the festival is the baby they had."
DiMartino and Foreman not only have a long history with the festival dating back to its origins 18 years ago, but also a rich musical life.
DiMartino is a widely-renowned trumpet performer and educator. Following his graduation from The Eastman School of Music in 1972, DiMartino ventured to Kentucky to teach at the University of Kentucky. He left that institution in 1993 to become the Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at Centre College, where he teaches trumpet, brass and jazz history today. He's also the coordinator of the Centre College Instrumental Program.
DiMartino's notoriety reaches into the realms of artistry, too. As a jazz artist, he's played lead and solo trumpet in the Lionel Hampton Band, the Chuck Mangione Band, the Clark Terry Band and the Eastman Arranger's Holiday Orchestra. A world traveler, he's performed with such artists as Henry Mancini and Pearl Bailey.
Join original inductee Mary Schurz
Foreman currently serves as the managing director of the Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College, where he is also an associate professor of humanities. Foreman is widely regarded as an authority on American band history, having presented papers on the topic and conducted historical band concerts in the states and abroad.
From 1987 to 2006, Foreman served as the director for The Advocate Brass Band. During this time, the group released a series of CDs featuring marches named for American newspapers.
The two honorees together founded the professional New Colombian Brass Band. That venture toured nationally and appeared in major performing arts centers in more than 10 states.
"Their support is astronomical in value," says Albright regarding the twosome's contributions. "They were instrumental in helping the festival grow bigger and better."
DiMartino and Foreman join original inductee Mary Schurz, former editor and publisher of The Advocate-Messenger, in the GABBF Hall of Fame.
Copyright The Advocate-Messenger 2007