John Jenkins UMASS-Amherst Band Director/French Horn Instructor 1964-2011

Trumpeter, Bob Amato met Professor John Jenkins for the first time in the Spring of 1967 during at time Bob was 17 years old and a High School Senior at Adams Memorial High School in Adams, Massachusetts.

At that time of year, the most talented high school aged band musicians throughout all of the public school systems that were established within beautiful and very rural Berkshire County were invited to audition to perform with the Berkshire County ‘All County Band’ which ultimately provided rehearsals and a formal concert in Pittsfield, Massachusetts which was the Berkshire County Seat.

In the Spring of 1967, Professor Jenkins was invited to be the Berkshire County ‘All County Band’ celebrity guest conductor. The musician audition judging or ‘jury selection’ process was performed by a small group of Band Directors who represented some of the larger, Berkshire County public school systems. The High School Band Director’s for Pittsfield, North Adams, and Williamstown, Massachusetts which were three of the larger communities by population in Berkshire County were part of the five Berkshire County community band director ‘jury’ which selected the High School Musicians who were selected to perform with the All County Band. Bob also recalls performing his audition which might have entailed multiple auditions for a ‘jury’ that included Professor Jenkins directly. However, Bob might be mistaken regarding Professor Jenkins participation in the musician ‘jury’ selection process.

The Adams High School Band Director, Joe Salerno selected two musicians to audition for

the Berkshire County All County Band both of whom were Seniors in High School.   Besides Bob on Trumpet, percussionist, Allen Kosiba were selected by Adams Band Director, Joe Salerno.  Allen and Bob attended the same grammar school, Jr. High School, and High School together and were both the same age.  (Allen was a child prodigy virtuoso on Marimba who flawlessly performed the “Flight of the Bumbleby” when he was six years old in front of their first grade class at Hoosac St. Grammar School.  Allen’s Father, was the Hoosac Street Grammar School Custodian and constructed for young Allen a large, tall and wide wooden bench platform for Allen to stand on so Allen could reach the Marimba keyboard with the Mallets.  And, Allen could masterfully play with 4 mallets when he was six years old.)

Because of Allen Kosiba’s profound mastery of the Marimba and other percussion instruments as well, Allen’s invitation to be invited to perform with the Berkshire County All County Band was a foregone conclusion.  However, Allen’s classmate, Bob did not know what to expect.

The only audition that Bob ever experienced was an audition Bob performed about four weeks earlier to attend the New England Conservatory was a ‘train wreck’ that Bob completely ‘butchered’ due to poor preparation and a bad case of ‘nerves’.  And, the only skill that Bob thought he could perform to a reasonable degree of excellence was ‘double and triple tongue’ on the trumpet.   Bob’s ability to double and triple tongue abilities were expedited by Bob discovering when he was about 14 years old, a rarely heard of tonguing technique called ‘Anchor Tonguing’ , which is also sometimes referred to as ‘K-Tonguing‘ – also see Claude Gordon’s Approach.  This tonguing technique was most notably described in writing by the legendary Cornet virtuoso, composer and teacher,  Herbert L. Clarke.  In the 1960’s the most notable classical trumpet player in the United States who employed this particular and very efficient technique of tonguing was Amando Ghitalla, the Principal Trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

When Bob was a Senior in High School in the Spring of 1967, the only classically oriented composition for solo trumpet that Bob was familiar with that Bob could perform with reasonable proficiency was the Arban version of the “Carnival of Venice”.  And, because Bob had practiced this number so frequently over a multi year period, Bob could pretty much perform the entire number from memory.

So, Bob ended up performing from memory various segments of the Arban version of the “Carnival of Venice” for the Berkshire All County Band jury audition committee.

The Band trumpet section consisted of 9 trumpets total.   Three trumpet chairs were assigned to each of the 1st trumpet, 2nd trumpet and 3rd trumpet parts.

Low and behold, somehow Bob was assigned to 1st Trumpet, 1st Chair.

A fine fellow named John Reid from Pittsfield, Massachusetts was assigned to 1st Trumpet, 2nd Chair.  Bob heard John play while warming up prior to the first All County Band rehearsal and was overwhelmed how well John could play the trumpet compared to Bob and any of the other chosen trumpet players. Bob learned that John had studied the previous five summers with legendary Boston Symphony Orchestra trumpet player, Roger Voison at nearby Tanglewood, the famed summer music venue for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

John Reid was the first really polished classical trumpet player that Bob ever met and hear perform in person.  And, Bob told John that Bob thought that John should be playing the 1st chair.  John told Bob, “Don’t worry about it.  If you mess something up, I’ve got you covered”.  John’s statement to Bob proved to be prophetic as John’s performances at all rehearsals and the final concert were perfect.  And, Bob flubbed some passages on occasion during rehearsals as well as during the course of the final concert performance.  And, John Reid went on to enroll at the New England School of Music in Boston.

The ‘celebrity guest conductor’ of the “All County Band” was Professor John Jenkins, who was the very capable University of Massachusetts (Amherst) Symphony Band Director, Marching Band Director as well as French Horn instructor.

And, all of the high school members of the All County Band were super impressed with Professor Jenkins conducting abilities as well.

Professor Jenkins introduced himself to a number of All County Band members both before and after rehearsals.  When Bob spoke to Professor Jenkins the first time, Bob told Professor Jenkins that Bob’s Father, Robert Shepley Amato went to UMASS-Amherst in the 1930’s where he attended the Stockbridge School of Agricultural where Bob’s Father graduated with a degree in Wildlife and Forestry Management.  And, Bob also told Professor Jenkins that he had already applied to UMASS and that Bob’s enrollment was accepted as an ‘Electrical Engineering Major’.  (Bob’s Mother, was never keen on Bob’s endless desire to be a professional trumpet player.)

Professor Jenkins also told Bob that UMASS recently hired a new trumpet instructor by the name of Walter Chesnut who Professor Jenkins said would provide Bob excellent guidance.  And, Professor Jenkins suggested to Bob that he should consider enrolling as a music major at UMASS-Amherst as well.

Bob ultimately enrolled as a music major at UMASS-Amherst for the school year that

began in September of 1967 at the age of 17 years old.  Prior to enrollment, Professor Jenkins arranged for Bob to meet with the newly appointed UMASS trumpet instructor, Walter Chesnut. In the late Summer of 1967, Bob met Professor “Wally” which ‘sealed the deal’ with Bob’s attendance at UMASS where Bob shifted from Engineering to moving through the arduous requirements to earn both a BA in Trumpet Performance as well as a BA in Music Education.

Professor John Alan Jenkins was a capable French Horn player who performed with the UMASS Music Faculty Brass Trio and was also the overall Director of the UMASS bands program.  The bands program including Symphony Band, Concert Band (primarily designed to serve non-music majors under the able Direction of Larry Weed) and the UMASS Minuteman Marching Band.

For many, many decades, Professor Jenkins was an enormous asset to the University of Massachusetts Music Department.

Professor Jenkins earned an extraordinary set of music educational training credentials which included a B.M., M.M., M.A. and Ph.D all earned from the very fine University of Michigan Music Department at Ann Arbor.

Professor Jenkins also studied under the legendary, Dr. William Revelli who was Director of the University of Michigan Band Program.  For years, Dr. Revelli was considered the finest Band Director in the United States.  And, the University of Michigan fielded the finest Symphony Band and Marching Band in the United States at the time Professor Jenkins was a student at the Univ. of Michigan.  The instrumental band oriented musical talent that Dr. Revelli attracted to attend the University of Michigan during Dr. Revelli’s tenure was extraordinary.

In the 1960’s, the President of UMASS was Dr. John Lederle.  Dr. Lederle earned his bachelor’s degree in 1933, his master’s in 1934, a law degree in 1936 and a Ph.D. in political science in 1942, all from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Lederle loved the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor music program which was every bit the equal of Julliard, New England Conservatory, Curtis School of Music, Eastman School of Music, and Peabody Conservatory with regards to the development of classical performance as well as music educational skill sets that were geared to band oriented wind, brass, and percussion musical instrumentalists.   And, the Univ. of Michigan Music Department had very rigorous admission standards as well.  The Univ. of Michigan Music Department attracted the finast young musicians in the United States that were interested in classical music. Consequently, Dr. Lederle encouraged the then,  extremely small 1960’s era UMASS Music Department to hire capable Univ. of Michigan Music School graduates that would carry on the highly evolved Univ. of Michigan musical tradition.

By 1967, the UMASS Music Faculty included the very capable University of Michigan Music School educated, Professor John Jenkins, Professor Walter “Wally” Chesnut, and Dr. Charles David “Chick” Lehrer’.

And, Professor Jenkins was instrumental in recruiting both Professor “Wally” and Dr. “Chick” to join the UMASS music faculty where they both proved to be enormous assets to the program.

The efforts of these three UMASS music faculty members, and others with ‘Michigan educational’ connections, caused the UMASS music school student body to refer to UMASS as ‘Little Michigan‘.

Into at least the early 1970’s, Professor Jenkins maintained a back breaking schedule that must have at least equaled and probably exceeded any other faculty member of the University of Massachusetts regardless of departmental affiliation.  Professor Jenkins must have easily spent at least 10-12 hours a day either teaching or conducting Monday through Friday.  And, during fall Football season, at least 8 hours or more on Saturday with the UMASS Minuteman Marching Band.

Professor Jenkins Band Director skills were also in high demand outside of the Univ. of Massachusetts – Amherst environment.  Professor Jenkins was an ‘in demand’ celebrity guest band director for both All State and All County High School Band music concert events.  And, Professor Jenkins ‘celebrity’ guest conductor activities probably included performances in other New England States as well.  Professor Jenkins celebrity guest conductor appearances were useful in attracting fresh young talent to enroll in the UMASS – Amherst Music Department.

Although photographs of Professor Jenkins that are available over the Internet portray Professor Jenkins as a very serious, perhaps detached, never smiling, humorless individual, that was not the case.   Professor Jenkins had a dignified, but very cordial personality.  And, always greeted in passing all students that he recognized with a pleasant ‘Hello’,  followed by the student’s first name….or ‘Hello, how are you today’?

Professor Jenkins always provided Bob with an ‘A’ grade in each of Bob’s many semesters that Bob performed under Professor Jenkins direction in the Symphony Band, Marching Band, as well as Applied French Horn educational courses.  Also, Professor Jenkins attended most if not all of Bob’s rather frequent trumpet performance student recitals always seated next to Bob’s teacher, Professor Walter “Wally” Chesnut.  Furthermore, Professor Jenkins also played French Horn on the closing fifth number on Bob’s Spring, 1972 Senior Trumpet Graduation Recital.  The closing number on this recital was Gabrieli’s Canzon Duo Decimi Toni a 10 arranged for a 10 piece brass ensemble (double antiphonal brass quintet). 

It is a tribute to Professor Jenkins good-hearted nature, and patience that provided Professor Jenkins eternal tolerance to Bob’s all to frequent practical jokes and less than mature behavior that Bob inflicted upon other Symphony Band members that sometimes caused disruption to band rehearsal activities.

A frequent target of Bob’s unfortunate hazing, practical jokes and occasional overall

disruptive immature behavior was an outstanding trumpet player, but non-music major,  Sylvia Gaviglio (from Springfield, Massachusetts) who played 1st cornet, 2nd chair and sat to the right of Bob for at least two and possibly three years.  The 3rd chair, 1st cornet was covered by the talented, non-music major, John Perko (from Lunenberg, Massachusetts).  The three were in the same class year.

Sylvia bore an uncanny resemblance, but more buxom version of Hollywood actress

Monica Bellucci.  (Her Father, Constantine owned a large construction company in Springfield.  It was rumored that Constantine was closely

connected to the the Boston, Patriarca Crime Family, and Mob Boss, Raymond Patriarca in particular who Constantine also resembled.  Constantine was also an excellent Baritone Horn player who fathered six children of which five were boys.  All six children were all trained by Constantine to be outstanding brass players and the entire family performed actively with both Springfield Knights of Columbus and Springfield Municipal Bands.)

The comely Sylvia tended to be somewhat shy, embarrassed easily which caused her to ‘blush’ to a noticeable degree.

Regrettably, Bob’s occasional ‘risque’ comments, hazing, and practical jokes that Sylvia suffered through from time to time sometimes completely disrupted Symphony Band rehearsals which caused Band Director, Professor Jenkins to threaten Bob with UMASS administrative ‘disciplinary action’ on one occasion, and on three occasions Professor Jenkins threw Bob out of rehearsals because Bob did not seize and desist tormenting poor dear Sylvia.

An example of an ‘over the top’ conversation that Bob had after (for a change) a John Jenkins led Symphony Band rehearsal in 1971 with the long suffering, Sylvia can be reviewed at Vienna Prostitution Scandal Travels to UMASS.

The causes of Professor Jenkins disciplinary actions against student, Bob were well deserved and always of a rather ‘risque’ nature.  A summary of summary of some of  Bob’s immature and tawdry behavior that required Professor Jenkins disciplinary intervention can be found at John Perko UMASS Trumpet.

Remarkably, and probably due to the ‘friendly’ intervention of Bob’s also long suffering, trumpet teacher, Professor Walter “Wally” Chesnut, Professor Jenkins provided Bob ‘Straight A’s’ in all the many College semesters that Bob performed with the UMASS Symphony Band including John Jenkins “Applied French Horn” music educational classes.

A by way of hindsight recollection that began to occur to Bob back in the 1980’s was the fact that Professor Jenkins never featured any instrumental student faculty or soloists with the UMASS-Amherst Symphony Band between 1967-1972.

Between 1967-1969, the two most obvious student instrumental soloists would have been the exceptional Doug Purcell on Cornet or Trumpet.  And, the other would have been Paul Appleby on Baritone Horn.  Appleby was an older music education major U.S. Military Veteran who returned to get his degree to teach music ed via a grant funded by way of  the G.I. Bill.  Paul was a Baritone Horn virtuoso who performed with the Presidents own, U.S. Marine Band as 1st chair Baritone Horn and featured Marine Band soloist.

Back in the 1980’s Bob had given some thought to writing a letter to Professor Jenkins asking Professor Jenkins if it would be possible for Professor Jenkins to arrange an Alumni reunion centered around the UMASS fall Alumni Homecoming ceremonies that would have the UMASS Symphony Band perform Leroy’s Anderson’s Bugler’s Holiday which is a crowd pleasing number which features 3 Cornetists or 3 Trumpet players in front of the Band.

Bob would have enjoyed the opportunity to perform the Leroy Anderson Bugler’s Holiday on Cornet with his old 1st chair band mates, Sylvia Gaviglio and John Perko.

As an alternative, Bob would have enjoyed the opportunity to perform a more ‘bombastic’ version of Bugler’s Holiday on Trumpet with his old friends, Doug Purcell and Jerry Mirliani.

Alas, because Bob has not touched a trumpet in over 25 years, that ‘fantasy’ will never come to pass.

Professor John Jenkins presents an oral history of his career in music at UMASS-Amherst including the development of the music program at the University with Russell Annis, October 21, 2011.