RIP Cosmo “Gus” Barbaro

[TheOneWhoKnows]

RIP to the legend.

I was lucky enough to have been adjudicated by him in my high school days. Always with such passion and profanity that only Gus could get away with these days.

And then was even luckier to have adjudicated alongside him in early days of my adjudication career. I was even in the same press box at the last marching band event he judged. 
 

[OldSnareDrummer]

The name rings a bell. Did he ever judge in the mid-west? Probably in the 70s. 

RIP 

 

[TheOneWhoKnows]

4 minutes ago, OldSnareDrummer said:

The name rings a bell. Did he ever judge in the mid-west? Probably in the 70s. 

RIP 

 

Yeah, he would’ve. Judged a lot of drum corps and WGI percussion. 

[Jeff Ream]

RIP

[IllianaLancerContra]

.

[Slingerland]

Gus was one of the gold standard DCI percussion judges in the mid to late 70s, before he went on staff with The Cavaliers. Big guy, big personality to match. 

[keystone3ply]

Great WGI HOF tribute video; RIP

 

 

Edited January 5 by keystone3ply
c

[Sutasaurus]

RIP Cosmo

[ironlips]

Cosmo Barbaro has left us. The man was a force of nature. I first saw him onstage, behind a drum kit, driving the entire Geneva Appleknockers horn line all by himself. He went on to become one of the most influential instructors, arrangers and adjudicators of all time.

 

Even Drum Corps couldn't contain him. He served as President of the Percussive Arts Society, Chief Judge for WGI Indoor Percussion, and taught for many years at Edinboro University, as befit a man with an advanced degree in Ethnomusicology.

 

We were fortunate to come within his orbit. There was never a finer mentor.

 

Frank Dorritie

 

 

 

 

[musicteacher]

Frank, he was one of those figures too many didn't appreciate at the time -- Sandra Opie, Shirlee Whitcomb, Dr, Baggs, Rodney Goodhardt, Frankie Morris, Don Angelica, Frank Levy. We were blessed to have been mentored by them. As you would say,"On the shoulders of giants..."