Rosario Mazzeo
Encyclopedia
Rosario Mazzeo was an American clarinetist and clarinet system designer. He was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
, grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts
, and afterward lived in Boston, Massachusetts. He played first E-flat clarinet
and later bass clarinet
in the Boston Symphony Orchestra
from 1933 to 1966.
Personnel manager with the Boston Symphony for much of his performance tenure, Rosario Mazzeo was also chairman of the woodwind department at the New England Conservatory of Music. After his retirement from the BSO, he lived in Carmel, California, where he had an extensive private studio and was a faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco Conservatory and Stanford University. He was the designer of the Mazzeo system
of clarinet keywork.
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:...
, grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, and afterward lived in Boston, Massachusetts. He played first E-flat clarinet
E-flat clarinet
The E-flat clarinet is a member of the clarinet family. It is usually classed as a soprano clarinet, although some authors describe it as a "sopranino" or even "piccolo" clarinet. Smaller in size and higher in pitch than the more common B clarinet, it is a transposing instrument in E, sounding a...
and later bass clarinet
Bass clarinet
The bass clarinet is a musical instrument of the clarinet family. Like the more common soprano B clarinet, it is usually pitched in B , but it plays notes an octave below the soprano B clarinet...
in the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
from 1933 to 1966.
Personnel manager with the Boston Symphony for much of his performance tenure, Rosario Mazzeo was also chairman of the woodwind department at the New England Conservatory of Music. After his retirement from the BSO, he lived in Carmel, California, where he had an extensive private studio and was a faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco Conservatory and Stanford University. He was the designer of the Mazzeo system
Mazzeo system
The Mazzeo system is a key system for the clarinet invented by Rosario Mazzeo in the 1950s, and is a modification of the Boehm system. Exclusive mass-production rights were given to the Selmer company, although only 13,000 were made. Many are now in museums, but some are in private collections or...
of clarinet keywork.