Nan Raphael

I had the honor of working with Sam Fricano for the first two years of my career with the Band. My audition for the band was very different than it is now. I got to sit in with the band for the first part of my audition and then played for Sue Schultz, Bob Zuern, Major Fricano and then Capt Grogan. They made me feel very comfortable. Two weeks later I got my invitation to join the band. Maj Fricano was a fiery, passionate conductor. One of my most unforgettable memories was at a concert where I was performing Through the Air--my first of many featured solos. The piece opens with a held note by the band and then a cadenza..well after I finished the cadenza Maj Fricano cut off the band, turned around and waited until the restless audience settled down. We started the piece again...I thought to myself, wow...it was going so well and I have to do this over again?!?!.. so, you always knew how he felt and what he was thinking. Of all the conductors I played for, he was one of if not my favorite. My heart goes out to him and his family and I'm ever so grateful that he gave me a job that provided security and lots of great opportunities that I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else.

Posted on: Apr 02, 2020 at 4:36 AM

Though I arrived at the Band just 4 years before Frank retired, he was one of the "old guys" to me but he was different in that he always had a smile on his face and was very welcoming to us newbies. He knew how to put a smile on all of our faces. Nan (2003)

Posted on: Apr 02, 2019 at 4:33 AM

Condolences to the Field Band as well as all of Ken's friends and family. He was a kind hearted man and gifted arranger. I was honored to play his arrangement of the first movement of Vivaldi's concert in a minor way back in the early 80s. Hopfully his voice will continue to be heard and introduced to future generations. Sincerely, Nan