Anthony J. Cirone received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from The Juilliard School where he studied with the famous, solo timpanist of the New York Philharmonic, Saul Goodman. Upon graduation, he was offered the position of Percussionist with the San Francisco Symphony under Maestro Josef Krips. During his 36-year tenure with the Symphony, Cirone also performed under the Musical Directorship of Seiji Ozawa, Edo DeWaart, Herbert Blomstedt, and Michael Tilson Thomas, along with noted guest conductors, such as Leonard Bernstein, Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, Eugene Ormandy, Kurt Mazur, Rafael Kubelik, and James Levine.
Mr. Cirone was also Professor of Music at San José State University and Chairman of the Percussion Department. He conducted the Percussion Ensemble, taught Fundamental Literature and Techniques, Percussion Pedagogy, and Notation/Computer Music Typography classes. He has also been on the faculties of San Francisco State University, Stanford University, and The Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where he chaired the Percussion Department. His students have gone on to hold positions in major orchestras and universities throughout the world.
Anthony Cirone is a prolific composer, with more than 100 published titles, including textbooks, symphonies for percussion, sonatas, a string quartet, and works for orchestra and concert band. His most recent publications include: Cirone's Pocket dictionary of Foreign Musical Terms and The Great American Symphony Orchestra. He was the Percussion Consultant/Editor for Warner Bros. Publishing Co. (now Alfred Music Publishing). His Portraits in Rhythm (50 Studies for Snare Drum) is recognized worldwide as a standard text for training percussionists. Cirone is also featured in a video, entitled, Concert Percussion, A Performer's Guide, distributed by Alfred Publishing Co. He presently is the Executive Editor of Percussion Publications for Meredith Music Publications. Cirone has designed two pairs of Signature Snare Drum Sticks for the Malletch Corporation. He won the Modern Drummer Magazine Reader's Poll for five consecutive years as a Classical Percussionist and was subsequently elected to the publication's Hall of Fame. Cirone was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2007. He is a clinician for The Yamaha Corporation, the Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Company, and the Remo Drum Company. Cirone received a Special Distinction Award from the ASCAP Rudolf Nissim Composition Contest for his work for full orchestra, entitled: Pentadic Striations.
Vanguard link: http://www.scvanguard.org/about/news/news.cfm?news_id=198dc526-cb29-4fa4-8c78-6274ff6adb20
Education: The Juilliard School - B.S. Degree (1964), M.S. Degree (1965)
Professional Activities:
- 2001 – 2006: Professor of Music and Chairman of the Percussion Department Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University
- 1965 – 2001: Percussionist, San Francisco Symphony
- 1965 – 2001: Professor of Music, San Jose State University
- 1983 – 1992: Lecturer, Stanford University
- 1976 – 1978: Assistant Professor, San Francisco State University
- 1980 – 2006: Percussion Consultant/Editor, Belwin-Mills/Warner Bros. Publications Inc.
- 2006 – Present: Executive Editor Percussion Publications, Meredith Music Publications
- 1975 – Present: Clinician, Avedis Zildjian Cymbal Co.
- 1985 – Present: Clinician, Yamaha Corporation of America
- 1975 – Present: Clinician, Remo Drum Company
Awards:
- Winner: The Modern Drummer Magazine Reader's Poll for Classical Percussionist for five consecutive years. Elected to the Modern Drummer Magazine’s Hall of Fame
- 1994 – Lifetime Achievement Award of Excellence: University of Oregon at Eugene
- 1994 – 2008 ASCAP Composition Awards
- 1999 – Lifetime Service Award: Northern California Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society
- 1999 – Special Distinction Award: ASCAP Rudolf Nissim Composition Contest for PENTADIC STRIATIONS (original work for full orchestra)
- 2007 – Inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame
Educational Products:
- Educational Video: Concert Percussion – A Performers Guide (produced by Masterplan Video)
- Tony Cirone Signature Snare Drum Sticks – Malletech Corporation
- Website: anthonyjcirone.com
Community Service:
- Board of Directors – The Percussive Arts Society
- 1989 – 1990 & 1995 – 1996: Chairman, San Francisco Symphony Player's Committee Member: Retirement, Audition, and Tour Committees
- Volunteer – local elementary schools
- 2004 – 2007: Chairman – Percussive Arts Society Symphonic Committee