North Texas Lives of Musician Series

William Vacchiano (1912 - 2005) was principal trumpet with the New York Philharmonic from 1942 to 1973. While at the Philharmonic, Vacchiano performed under the batons of Arturo Toscanini, Bruno Walter, Dimitri Mitropoulos, and Leonard Bernstein, and played in the world premieres of almost 200 pieces by such composers as Vaughan Williams, Copland, and Barber. Vacchiano was important not only for his performances, but also for his teaching. Two of his better known students are Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis.

Last Stop, Carnegie Hall features an overview of the life of this very private artist, based on several personal interviews conducted by Brian A. Shook and Vacchiano’s notes for his own unpublished memoir. Important topics include analyses of Vacchiano’s pedagogical methods and his interpretations of important trumpet pieces, his “rules of orchestral performance”, and his equipment.

The book is published by University of North Texas Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks