Vincent Cichowicz

Vincent Cichowicz, Professor Emeritus of Trumpet at Northwestern University and former member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, died December 11, 2006 at his home in Fontana, Wisconsin, from complications of colon cancer. He was 79.

A lifetime figure on the music scene in Chicago, Mr. Cichowicz had served on the faculty at Northwestern since 1959 and as Professor of Trumpet from 1974 until his retirement in 1998. He began his musical career at the age of 17 as a member of the Houston Symphony Orchestra and, after military service in the Fifth Army Band, returned to Chicago to attend Roosevelt University. In 1952 he became a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra where he remained for 23 years under Music Directors Raphael Kubelik, Fritz Reiner, Jean Martinon and Georg Solti. During this period he was a member of the Chicago Symphony Brass Quintet and was a participant in the Grammy Award-winning recording "The Antiphonal Music of Gabrieli".

He was appointed Music Director of the Millar Brass Ensemble in 1995: their collaboration can be heard on the Delos recording, "Brass Surround". In 1997 Mr. Cichowicz received a special achievement award from the European Chapter of the International Trumpet Guild and was presented with the “Legends in Teaching Award” by Northwestern University. In 1999 he received the International Trumpet Guild Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Cichowicz was a faculty member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada from 1980 until 2002, and of the Brass Seminar program at The Domaine Forget in Charlevoix, Quebec, from 1986 until 2004. He conducted numerous workshops and clinics throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan and was regarded as one of North America’s foremost experts in brass pedagogy.

Mr. Cichowicz was born on August 27, 1927, to Walter and Mary Cichowicz in Chicago, Illinois, and they preceded him in death, as did a brother, Walter Cichowicz. Mr. Cichowicz’s first marriage was to the former Lois Cahill, with whom he had three sons. He married Genriq E. Murphy in 1987, and she survives him. In addition to Ms. Murphy, he is survived by three sons, Michael Cichowicz of Evanston, Illinois, Steve Cichowicz and wife Donna of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Rob Cichowicz of Evanston, Illinois, and grandchildren Kent, Lindsay, and Keith Cichowicz of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Mr. Cichowizc is also survived by sisters Ange Duda and Ann Carney and husband George.

Memorials are suggested to the Millar Brass Ensemble or the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinics.

Source: Joyce Davis