In Memoriam: Raymond Crisara (October 19, 1920 – May 25, 2014)

Born in Cortland, New York, Raymond Crisara's began his formal musical education at the Ernest Williams School of Music before graduating and entering the University of Michigan, where he was a teaching assistant to Dr. William Revelli.

At 19, he was appointed principal trumpet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, a position that he held until he was drafted into the United States Army Special Services Orchestra in New York. After his time in the service, Mr. Crisara played and toured with the NBC Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini, was solo cornetist with the Goldman Band and Paul LaValle's Band of America. He also played with the ABC Brass Quintet, and was on the music staff at both ABC and NBC for many years. Crisara was sought after for commercial work, jingles, concert work and solo performances, numerous recordings for television and radio, and played under virtually all of the notable conductors of that period. Mr. Crisara was was particularly proud of his work with Robert Russell Bennett on "Victory at Sea" and "Wide, Wide World." Crisara was also a national clinician for the Selmer Corporation and worked closely with Vincent Bach to help develop the internationally acclaimed Bach Stradivarius trumpet.

In 1978, Crisara was invited to join the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin, where he enjoyed 23 years of building his trumpet studio, mixing his love of the trumpet and his life lessons in his own, unique way. Crisara received many accolades including the Edwin Franko Goldman Memorial Citation from the American Bandmaster's Association, being inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers at the University of Texas, being named a Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus, receiving the Frank C. Erwin, Jr. Centennial Professorship, and receiving an honorary doctorate from the State University of New York-Cortland. He also received the Herbert L. and Jean Schultz Mentor Ideal Award for Outstanding Teaching from the Association of Concert Bands, and an International Trumpet Guild Award of Merit for "lifetime achievement in teaching and performance throughout the world."

A Celebration of Life Service was held at St. John's United Methodist Church in Austin, TX on May 31, 2014, at which hundreds of family members, friends, loved ones, and colleagues gathered to honor Crisara and his lasting impact. Charles Decker and Todd Hastings spoke about Crisara’s legacy, and former members of Crisara's studio performed as a trumpet choir, providing a musical tribute to their friend and mentor throughout the service.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 65 years, Angela, his brother and sister in law, Robert and Stella Crisara, his four adoring children, Meg Houghton and her husband Dana, Cina Crisara, Andrea Snouffer and her husband Edward, and Philip Crisara and his wife Tina, and six beautiful grandchildren: Jenny and Amilyn Houghton, Lauren and Emily Snouffer, and Alex and Matthew Crisara.

In honor of Mr. Crisara, contributions may be made to the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Legacy Fund in Memory of Raymond Crisara. Please address to: D. Kim Dunnick, Legacy Fund Director, 10 Lagrande Ct., Ithaca, NY 14850.

Source: Andrea Snouffer, daughter, from her obituary in the Austin American-Statesman, May 27, 2014