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.