Aldo Rafael Forte - LONG BIO






Aldo Rafael Forte is a renowned composer with many published and recorded original compositions to his credit. He has written works ranging from chamber pieces to major compositions for wind band and orchestra as well as several concertos. Now completely retired from composition, Forte had a distinguished 26 year career as Composer/Arranger in the United States Air Force with assignments at Air University Band at Maxwell AFB, AL, USAFE Band at Einsiedlerhof AB, Germany, and the Heritage of America Band at Langley AFB, VA. In addition, he had a successful career as a freelance composer, clinician, and conductor of his music as well as Adjunct Professorships in music composition and/or music courses at Auburn University at Montgomery and Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA. He is no longer accepting commissions.

Among the ensembles that have performed his music are ?The President?s Own? U.S. Marine Band, Militar Musik der Voralberg (Austria), National Dutch Youth Wind Band, the Wind Ensemble of the Queensland Conservatorium in South Bank, Queensland, Australia, North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, Bohuslav Martinu  Orchestra of the Czech Republic, Orquesta Sinfonica de Michoacan, Mexico, and  numerous university bands including University of North Texas, Arizona State University, University of Puget Sound, Kansas State University as well as many All - State bands and municipal bands such as the Piedmont Wind Symphony and the Tacoma Concert Band.  His works appear on over 35 CDs including many military band recordings as well as on such labels as Klavier, Summit, Polyphonic (UK), and Deutsche Schallplatten Berlin (Germany).Ensembles which have recorded his works include The Southwest German Radio Orchestra, University of Georgia Wind Symphony, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble, Air National Guard Band of the Southwest , USAF Heritage of America Band, Her Majesty?s The Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards (UK), and the Aulos Wind Ensenble of Lucerne, Switzerland, to name but a few. Forte has many published works appearing in the catalogs of 9 publishers which include Kjos, TRN, C. Alan Publications, Masters Music Publications, Tuba-Euphonium Press and Studio Music Co. of the UK. 

 Forte was born in Cuba and came to the U.S. at the age of nine. He was introduced to music early on by his father, a professor of mathematics and amateur classical guitarist and guitar maker. Forte credits the encouragement of both of his parents, Dr. Aldo Forte and Maria Forte, with his active pursuit of music. Forte has studied composition with Ross Lee Finney, William Presser, and Robert Jager. He holds music degrees from Tennessee Technological University and the University of Southern Mississippi and has done post graduate work in composition at the University of Alabama.

 During his 26 year career as a professional composer/arranger in the United States Air Force Bands and Music Program, Forte composed many original works for concert band which appear on numerous CDs and wrote special arrangements for guest artists including Broadway singers Sandra Joseph, Karen Mason, and Michael Maguire, vocalist Dionne Warwick, and tuba soloist Patrick Sheridan.

He has been a highly commissioned composer. Forte has given numerous composition master classes including at the London College of Music and Media (UK), Royal Military School of Music (Kneller Hall, UK), Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague, The Netherlands, and at many universities. He also frequently appeared as a guest composer/conductor and has conducted the National Dutch Youth Wind Band (all Forte concert), Mississippi State University Band Clinic Honor Band, Troy University Symphony Band (SEUS Band Clinic, and the Tacoma Concert Band, plus several others. Forte has twice been awarded  First Place in the National Federation of Music Clubs American Music in the U.S Armed Forces Composition Competition and he is listed in "The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music". Forte was also active as a music adjudicator.

 


 


Aldo Rafael Forte, Composer  - NEWS          


Jan. 26, 2025 - Hubert Ecklbauer and  Orchester Stadl-Paura/Lambach, will perform Mvt. III. "Carnaval Habanero" from my "Concerto for Horn and Orchestra" - Paura, Upper Austria

      

April 3, May 1, May 29, 2024 - Guest Composer on WHRO's 90.3 "ALocal Touch" hosted by Raymond Jones - NPR Affiliate, Hampton Roads, VA

   

Jan. 11 & 12,, 2024 – Banda Municipal de Barcelona, Ximo Tarin, Conductor L’Auditori performs “Dance Suite on Spanish and Latin Rhythms" - Barcelona, Spain

   

Oct. 28, 2023 - Chicago Wind Symphony, Michael McCain, Cond. perform DALI - Oak Park and River Forest High School

     

30 July 2023 – Racine Concert Band, Mark Eichner, Cond. Paul Taylor, Euph , perform Canzonetta for Euph and Band – Racine Zoo, Racine, Wisconsin

       

May 23, 2023 - World premiere of "Recollection and Caprice" by the Tidewater Cello Ensemble under Forte's direction (Susan and Erin Hines co directors) - Bruton Parish Church, Williamsburg, VA

        

April 23, 2023 - U.S. premiere of "Sinfonia No. 1 for Band" by Kansas State University   Symphony Band, Frank Tracz, cond. with Forte as Guest composer in Residence.           

       

April 1, 2023, University of Kansas Tuba Euph consort Scott Watson, director perform “Tubas Latinas” University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

       

March 9, 2023  - World premiere of my "Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and PIANO" by Suzanne Boer, saxophone and Andrey Nesterenko, piano at the ArtEZ Conservatory in Zwolle, The Netherlands.

     

September 21, 2022 - World premiere of "Sinfonia No. 1 for Band" by Banda Municipal de música de Vitoria-Gasteiz ko Udal musika Banda, Maestro Luis Orduña, conductor, Vitoria Gasteiz, Basque country, Spain.   

   

September 2022 - "Romanza y Pachanga for tuba euph ensemble" released on CD by the Tennessee Tech Tuba Euphonium Ensemble, R. Winston Morris, conductor on their "LIVE AT 55" CD , Mark Custom 56555 MCD 7


May 26, 2022 - Dan Davis performs "Dance Rhapsody for Tuba and Piano" at Midwest Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

     

April 16, 2022 - Tennessee Tech Tuba - Euphonium Alumni Ensemble, R. Winston Morris, Cond.,  premiere "Romanza y Pachanga" at 55th Anniversary Concert of TN Tech Tuba Ensemble (to be recorded by Mark Records for CD release)  - Cookeville, TN

      

March 29, 2022 - Trey Switzer, euphonium with Songhwa Chae, piano in world premiere of "Dance Rhapsody for Euphonium and Piano", Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS

       

March 12, 2022 - University of Southern Mississippi Tuba Euph. Ensemble, Richard Perry, Director, perform "Adagio and Rondo" at Southeastern Regional Tuba Euph. Conference (SERTEC) of International Tuba Euphonium Association - Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA

      

March 10, 2022 - Dan Davis, tuba and the University of Southern Mississippi Wind Ensemble, Catherine Rand, cond. will perform "Dance Rhapsody for Tuba and Band" - Hattiesburg, MS

      

March 7, 2022 - Kansas State University Symphony Band, Frank Tracz, cond. perform "Pastiche - concerto dances for trombone and band" with Paul Hunt on the solo trombone part - Manhattan, KS

       

Dec. 15, 2021 - WHRO NPR Norfolk, "A Local Touch" program, Raymond Jones broadcast "A Cup of Christmas" (music: Forte, story: Tom Hegg)

        

Dec. 9, 2021 -Banda Sinfonica Municipal de Sevilla, Guillermo Martinez Arana, cond. in a performance of DALI  (see program above)  Seville, Spain

             

July 18 - 22, 2021 - German Wind Philharmonic, Toni Scholl, cond. recording session for "Tableaux - for double quintet" - Singelfingen, Germany     

              

June 4, 2021 - German Wind Philharmonic, Toni Scholl, cond. perform  "Tableaux - for double quintet" (Manuela Lusser, student cond.)  - Mannheim, Germany      watch    

                              

March 10, 2021 - Banda Municipal de Musica de Vitoria - Gasteiz, Luis Orduna, cond. perform DALI   - Bilbao , Spain    watch from 11:50