Vincent Fanelli, Jr. (December 23, 1883 – March 2, 1966)''Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014''.

Social Security Administration The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) is an Independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government that administers Social Security (United ...

. was an American harpist, teacher, and handball enthusiast.

Biography

Fanelli was born in New York City. His father, a

Neapolitan Neapolitan means of or pertaining to Naples, a city in Italy; or to: Geography and history * Province of Naples, a province in the Campania region of southern Italy that includes the city * Duchy of Naples, in existence during the Early and High ...

, was his first harp teacher. By 1908 he was on the orchestra faculty at New York's

Institute of Musical Art The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...

, now the Juilliard School, Dr. Frank Damrosch, director. From 1913 to 1930 he was principal harpist of the

Philadelphia Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia. One of the " Big Five" American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscription concerts, n ...

under

Leopold Stokowski Leopold Anthony Stokowski (18 April 1882 – 13 September 1977) was a British-born American conductor. One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra. H ...

. A hand problem developed during this period requiring the re-fingering of his music. Eventually the entire hand became involved. As a result, Fanelli had to give up playing the harp to save his hand. From 1930 to 1932 he relocated to Gun Lake, Michigan and resided with his brother, a painter. He recuperated and felt encouraged to play the harp again. At or about this time he developed an interest in handball and eventually became as well known in this sport as he was in the field of harp playing. Fanelli played harp under other notable conductors including

Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini (; ; March 25, 1867January 16, 1957) was an Italian conductor. He was one of the most acclaimed and influential musicians of the late 19th and early 20th century, renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orche ...

Walter Damrosch Walter Johannes Damrosch (January 30, 1862December 22, 1950) was a Prussian-born American conductor and composer. He was the director of the New York Symphony Orchestra and conducted the world premiere performances of various works, including Aa ...

, and

Reginald de Koven Henry Louis Reginald De Koven (April 3, 1859January 16, 1920) was an American music critic and prolific composer, particularly of comic operas. Biography De Koven was born in Middletown, Connecticut, and moved to Europe in 1870, where he receive ...

. In 1961, he retired from the

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO) was founded in 1921 and is now the third largest professional orchestra in Michigan. During the 2005–2006 concert season, the orchestra played for more than 100,000 people in more than 30 concerts. The orc ...

after 29 years. Vincent Fanelli died at his home on Staten Island, New York on March 2, 1966.Kalamazoo Gazette, Kalamazoo, Michigan; March 3, 1966.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fanelli, Vincent 1883 births 1966 deaths American classical harpists Musicians from Philadelphia Juilliard School faculty People from Great Kills, Staten Island American people of Italian descent Musicians from Staten Island Educators from New York City Educators from Pennsylvania Classical musicians from Pennsylvania 20th-century American classical musicians Musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra Classical musicians from New York (state) 20th-century American male musicians American male classical musicians 20th-century harpists Male harpists