Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel (born May 31, 1925, in

Cortland, New York Cortland is a city and the county seat of Cortland County, New York, United States. Known as the Crown City, Cortland is in New York's Southern Tier region. As of 2024, the estimated population of Cortland, New York, is 17,196, reflecting a dec ...

) is the former Commander and Conductor of the

United States Air Force Band The United States Air Force Band is a U.S. military band consisting of 184 active-duty members of the United States Air Force. It is the Air Force's premier musical organization and is based at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. Wi ...

, United States Air Force Symphony Orchestra, and Singing Sergeants from 1964 to 1985. In 1990, he was named the first Conductor Emeritus of the United States Air Force Band and the 29th DIV Band of the Virginia Army National Guard. Gabriel has four sons, one daughter, and thirteen grandchildren.

Early life

During World War II, he served as an infantryman (as a machine gunner) with the US Army's 29th Infantry Division in Europe. For his service in Europe he received two Bronze Star medals and the Combat Infantry Badge. After leaving the Army, Gabriel worked at a canning factory as he was unable to go to college. Later his former High School Band Director paid for Gabriel to attend

Ithaca College Ithaca College is a private college in Ithaca (town), New York, Ithaca, New York. It was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a Music school, conservatory of music. Ithaca College is known for its media-related programs and entertainment program ...

in 1946. He earned both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Music Education in the Ithaca College. Gabriel retired from the United States Air Force Band and the Air Force in February 1985.

Career

He has conducted hundreds of major orchestras and bands, including

Mormon Tabernacle Choir The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, is an American choir affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has performed in the Salt Lake Tabernacle for o ...

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

, and Tatui São Paulo (Brazil) symphony orchestras, the Carabiniere Band and the Air Force Band (Italy), the Band of the Royal Netherlands Marines, the Staff Music Corps (Bonn, Germany), the National Band of the Canadian Forces (Ottawa), the National Intercollegiate Band, the Dallas Wind Symphony, the Gamagori Band and the

Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra The is a professional concert band based in Tokyo, Japan. TKWO has been called Japan's premiere wind ensemble, one of the most influential Japanese wind bands, and one of the world's leading professional civilian wind bands. History TKWO was ...

(Japan).Colonel Gabriel Conductor Emeritus, The United States Air Force Band, and Professor Emeritus, George Mason University
/ref>

Honors

Gabriel's professional honors include the very first Citation of Excellence awarded by the National Band Association,

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (legally Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha, PMA, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for men with a special interest ...

’s New Millennium Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a recipient of the

Kappa Kappa Psi Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity (, colloquially referred to as KKPsi) is an honorary Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for school band, college and university band members in the United States. It was founded on November ...

Distinguished Service to Music Medal The Distinguished Service to Music Medal is an award presented by Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity in the United States. It is awarded to people who have contributed to the advancement of the wind band "as a cultural, musical a ...

. Gabriel was inducted into the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors, becoming the youngest person ever to have received this honor. He is also a Past President of the prestigious

American Bandmasters Association The American Bandmasters Association (ABA) was formed in 1929 by Edwin Franko Goldman to promote concert band music.Raoul F. Camus. "American Bandmasters Association." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/sub ...

. In 2008, the US Air Force Band dedicated the Arnald D. Gabriel Hall in his honor. In 1990, he was named the first Conductor Emeritus of the United States Air Force Band at

DAR Constitution Hall DAR Constitution Hall is a List of concert halls, concert hall located at 1776 D Street NW, near the White House in Washington, D.C. It was built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to house its annual convention when membership ...

in Washington, DC. Gabriel is a Professor Emeritus of

George Mason University George Mason University (GMU) is a Public university, public research university in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., the university is named in honor of George Mason, a Founding Father ...

References

External links

Colonel Arnald Gabriel Interview
at NAMM Oral History Collection {{DEFAULTSORT:Gabriel, Arnald 1925 births Living people Ithaca College alumni United States Air Force officers American male conductors (music) United States Air Force Band musicians Distinguished Service to Music Medal recipients 21st-century American conductors (music) 21st-century American male musicians United States Army personnel of World War II United States Army soldiers American men centenarians