World Drum Corps Hall Of Fame Associate Gasparre Passes
Visitation and a military ceremony for World Drum Corps Hall of Fame associate member Michael Gasparre, of Tarrytown, New York, will be held on October 17 and 18. He passed away in Florida on September 24.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm Thursday October 17 at Coffey Funeral Home, 91 North Broadway in Tarrytown. A priest will participate in the military burial ceremony taking place from 10:30 to 11:30 am at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Mausoleum, 540 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, New York.
In addition to many years of drum and bugle corps activity, most notably with New York Skyliners, he participated with many professional music groups, performing across the country. He was among the large class of Hall of Fame associate members inducted in 2002.
Michael Gasparre was still playing mellophone with Florida Brass more than 70 years after he began playing a G bugle in 1937 with St. Anthony’s drum and bugle corps in Yonkers. He then played for 10 years with the Ivy A corps in Yonkers before serving in the United States Army for three years.
In the 1940s, he took trumpet lessons with Professor Frank Rice, and played professionally with a number of dance bands. He also marched with Frank A. Rea American Legion Post drum and bugle corps before and after serving in the army. During his years of service, he played trumpet and bass fiddle with U.S. Army Field Bands and orchestras in England and Germany.
From 1955 to 1967, he played French horn with the New York Skyliners and taught music to several other corps in the New York area. He was awarded a Skyliner lifetime membership award in 1985. He then served the corps as field equipment manager, scout, driver, advisor and member of various committees. He served on the committee that organized the Skyliners alumni association in 1986.
Beginning in 1986, he was a music judge for the Tri-State Musical Parade Judges Association, including several years as chief music judge. He was a member of the Skyliners alumni chorus since its inception. He was also a bass fiddle player, trumpeter and vocalist with various professional recording and music groups, performing across the country.
Regular World Drum Corps Hall of Fame members are honoured for their dedication, contributions and achievements over a long period of time in categories including administration, arranging, adjudication, instruction, innovation and design. Associate members have dedicated at least five consecutive years of service to any drum and bugle corps as a performer or in a support role. Special membership categories include inductees honoured for Distinguished Professional Achievement and individuals receiving the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
The World Drum Corps Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization honoring those individuals who have contributed significantly over many years to the development and continuing excellence of drum and bugle corps activity around the world. For more information, visit the website at wdchof.org
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