Frank Erickson composer / arranger

date of birth: 01.09.1923
date of death: 21.10.1996

For more than 40 years, Frank Erickson has devoted his career to music education, and ranks as one of the profession's best-known and most influential composers and arragers.

Before he was 10, Frank began his study of trumpet and piano, and during his last year in high school composed his first concert band number, The Fall of Evening. Following four years in the service during World War II, he began his writing career as a jazz arranger and, as his interest in serious music grew, he began studies in composition with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. He later entered the University of Southern California as a composition major and while a student began arranging half-time shows for the USC Marching Band. By the time he received his masters degree from USC he had several published band numbers, the first of which was Liittle Suite for Band. During the '50s his career soared with the publication of such perennial favorites as Balladair, Air for Band, Fantasy for Band, and Toccata for Band.

He has over 400 publications including 200 original works for band and is active as a composer and guest conductor, both in the United States and abroad.

For more than 40 years, Frank Erickson (1923-1996) has devoted his career to music education, and ranks as one of the profession's best-known and most influential composers and arragers.

Before he was 10, Frank began his study of trumpet and piano, and during his last year in high school composed his first concert band number, The Fall of Evening. Following four years in the service during World War II, he began his writing career as a jazz arranger and, as his interest in serious music grew, he began studies in composition with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. He later entered the University of Southern California as a composition major and while a student began arranging half-time shows for the USC Marching Band. By the time he received his masters degree from USC he had several published band numbers, the first of which was Liittle Suite for Band. During the '50s his career soared with the publication of such perennial favorites as Balladair, Air for Band, Fantasy for Band, and Toccata for Band.

He has over 400 publications including 200 original works for band.

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