Early life Pezzi was born in 1887, in
San Severo,
Italy and was the oldest of four children. When he was in his late teens, Pezzi was sponsored by his uncle, Enrico Pezzi, to study bassoon. Pezzi began his studies with Arduino Pucciarell at the
Giuseppe Verdi School of Music in San Severo. Once proficient at the bassoon, Pezzi joined the Banda Bianca of San Severo. Pezzi would tour Italy and the United States with both the Banda Bianca and the Banda Rossa of San Severo. During this time Pezzi continued his studies with Eduardo Buccini at the Royal Conservatory at Naples, before emigrating to the United States in 1908.
Immigration to America While on tour in 1908, Pezzi won the position of second bassoon with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (now the
Minnesota Orchestra) under maestro
Emil Oberhoffer. Shortly after obtaining U.S. Citizenship in 1916, Pezzi was
drafted into
World War I. Pezzi served in the
Navy Band at the
Great Lakes Naval Station alongside future
Philadelphia Orchestra principal bassoonist Walter Geutter. As a part of their Military duties, Pezzi and Guetter served on the
USS George Washington when it took U.S. President
Woodrow Wilson to Europe at the conclusion of WWI. With his military service over in 1918, Pezzi began looking for work in a professional orchestra. In 1919, he was hired to play second bassoon in the newly re-formed
Detroit Symphony Orchestra under music director
Ossip Gabrilovich. Pezzi served in this capacity as second bassoon throughout the 1920’s. In 1922 he participated in the first ever radio broadcast of a Symphony Orchestra with Gabrilovich conducting, and
Artur Schnabel at the piano. Due to the financial impact on the Detroit Symphony during the Great Depression, Pezzi and many other Detroit Symphony musicians lost employment in 1929. After the loss of work in Detroit, Pezzi was recruited to join the Rochester Philharmonic by flutist and former colleague
Leonardo DeLorenzo. In 1932, he became principal bassoon of the Rochester Philharmonic which at the time was tied to the position of professor of bassoon at the Eastman School of Music. Pezzi participated in numerous tours and recordings during his time in Rochester, including playing under the baton of
Leonard Bernstein and
Igor Stravinsky Influence Pezzi is widely known for being one of the first major teachers of
Heckel bassoon. He first taught private students during his time in the Minneapolis Symphony, and is most often associated with his tenure as professor of bassoon at the Eastman School of Music. He began teaching in the 1932 academic year in Eastman School of Music in concurrence with his appointment to the Rochester Philharmonic. As a dedicated educator, Pezzi was notable for his “interest in the individuality of each student and his devotion to tone quality and expressive, vocal playing.” Drawing upon his European education and the influence of American contemporaries such as Walter Geutter and
Marcel Tabuteau, Pezzi cultivated a widely successful bassoon studio, training a number of the prominent bassoonists of the 20th century. Pezzi retired in 1954 and was succeeded by his student,
K. David van Hoesen. During the 1930s, Pezzi served as a private instructor at the National Music Camp (now Interlochen Arts Camp) alongside
Howard Hanson and other Eastman School of Music faculty members. The collection is maintained by George Sakakeeny, current professor of bassoon at the Eastman School of Music.
Switch from French to German Bassoon During his early years, Pezzi learned both
French and
Heckel (German) bassoon. At the time, the French bassoon was the predominant instrument being used in professional orchestras throughout Italy, France, and the United States. As the German system gained popularity in the US, Pezzi made the switch and purchased a
Heckel bassoon made in 1921. In 1939 Pezzi purchased Heckel #8331, the bassoon he would go on to play for the remainder of his career. This instrument was originally a “world system” bassoon, which sounds identical to a Heckel bassoon, but with the left hand keywork of a French bassoon. The instrument was originally built with a “french” whisper key for the left hand pinky, and a single C/D vent. It has since been converted to a full
Heckel system bassoon, and is played professionally in New York City. It has received maintenance from Hans Moennig, Shane Weiler, and Frank Marcus.
Later life Pezzi retired from the Eastman School of Music in 1954 and remained active as a musician, attending concerts and teaching private lessons. He died in
Washington, D.C. on July 14, 1966, and is buried at
Arlington National Cemetery. ==Notable Students of Vincent Pezzi==