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 - Select performances
May 17, 2020 : Leonard Byrne, tuba and Spokane Brass Band, Kit Cutler, Conductor perform Dance Rhapsody for Tuba and Brass Band (arranged for brass band by Armin Terzer), Spokane, WA (CANCELED DUE TO COVID)
May 14 - 16 2020 : Dan Davis plays Dance Rhapsody for Tuba and Piano Midwest Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference., (MWRTEC) University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY Thursday, 5/14 at 2 pm for MWRTEC (CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19)
March 19 -21, 2020 : Dan Davis plays Dance Rhapsody for Tuba and Piano South Central Regional Tuba Euph Conference in Stillwater, OK, Oklahoma State University. Friday, 3/20 at 9 am for SCRTEC (CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19)
March 13 -15, 2020 : Bowling Green State University (OH) Tuba - Euph Ensemble, , Dave Saltzman, director, plays Seguidillas at North East Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference (NERTEC), Ithaca College, NY (CANCELED due to COVID-19)
March 5, 2020 - Boston University Wind Ensemble, David Martins, Cond. performed my "Dance Suite on Spanish and Latin Rhythms" , Tsai Performing Arts Center, Boston University. concert program listen to live performance
Feb. 29, 2020 - Claremont Clarinet Quartet performs "Petite Suite for Clarinet Quartet - Los Angeles, CA
May 2, 2019 - Huntsville High School Band (AL) , Stuart Tankersley, Director perform "Concertino for Flute, Bassoon, and Band". Gabbi Smith, bassoon , Ben Blankenship, flute video of concert
April 26 (Sarnia, Ontario) and April 27 (Port Huron, MI), 2019 - International Symphony Orchestra, Douglas Biancchi, Cond. perform "Piezas Latino - Ibericas" for brass quintet and orchestra.
March 29, 2019 - Dan Davis, tuba (Paul Thurmond, pn.) premieres "Dance Rhapsody for Tuba and Piano" and performs "Dance Movements for Tuba and Two Percussionists" on his graduate recital, TN Tech University - Cookeville, TN watch highlights
Feb. 17, 2019 - Purdue University Symphony Band, Matt Conaway, Cond. perform "Northwest Passages".
Jan. 25, 2019 - Mississippi State University Symphony Band, Elva Kaye Lance, Cond. perform "Impressionist Prints" mvts: I., III. IV., V. VI.
Nov. 6, 2018 - Sociedad Artístico Musical de CASTELLNOVO (Spain), Director: Ricardo Bolós Pérez perform "Van Gogh Portraits" watch performance
August 25, 26, 2018 - Forte was Composer in Residence at the 2018 Cairns Brass Winter Camp, gave composition master classes , rehearsed and conducted young brass players in several compositions written specially for the event.
brass camp flyer video of Divertimento for Brass Ensemble video of Darling Harbor Fest
21 October 2018 - "DALI" -performed in Trento Italia by Banda Sinfonica Giovanile Trentina, Jose Alcacer Dura, Conductor program
24 October, 2018 - Cookeville, TN, The renowned Tennessee Tech University Tuba Euphonium Ensemble led by its founder and director R. Winston Morris hosted Forte in an evening of his tuba - euphonium ensemble works as part of their annual Octubafest listen to the entire concert
March 17, 2016 - Bridgewater-Raritan High School Wind Ensemble, NJ , Dr. Thomas Bourgault, conducting perform II. Mechanization from "Symphony for the Millennium" watch
Feb. 21 , 2016 - Banda Ntra. Sra. El Carmoen de Salteras, Guillermo Martinez Arana perform DALI. - Sevilla, Spain watch
Oct 25, 2015 - Banda Municipal de Música de Bilbao, José Rafael Pascual – Vilaplana, Cond. play DALI and "Impressionist Prints on same concert - Bilbao, Spain info at bottom of link
July 17, 2015 - Tacoma Concert Band, Robert Musser, cond., perform "Northwest Passages", Certamen Int. de Bandas - Valencia Spain watch
