Klarinet Archive - Posting 000645.txt from 1997/07

From: reedman@-----.com
Subj: Death of Rosario Mazzeo
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 21:29:39 -0400

It is with great sadness that I am making the announcement of the death of my friend and mentor,
Rosario Mazzeo. He was 86 and died at his home in Carmel.

I had the great fortune to study with Rosario from 1976 - 1981. I suppose that we all have had
one person that we can identify in our lives as having had the greatest impact on our musical
growth and Rosario was that person in my life.

Rosario often told me that when he considered the many musical accomplishments of his life
(including 33 years with the BSO), he felt that his greatest contribution and the most
personally rewarding was in the area of teaching. He had an amazing mind and brought an unusual
breadth of knowledge and experience into each session. Even though he was the most articulate
person I ever met he was not satisfied with describing or explaining. His method directed each
pupil to arrive at conclusions by answering his questions - some of them quite abstract!! He was
the ultimate teacher - one who gave his students the tools of observation and analysis to
continue learning through out our careers.

There is so much that can be said in tribute to this uniquely gifted and wonderful man, but for
now I am content to tell you that I know his spirit lives on in the teaching and music making of
his many, many students and the memories of all those who knew and loved him.

Clark W Fobes