Richard Castiglione

Richard Castiglione

DOVER - Richard Castiglione, 84, died July 21, 2013 at Hyder Family Hospice House in Dover, N.H.

He was born November 12, 1928 in Kingston, N.Y. the son of Salvatore and Marguerite (Fay) Castiglione.

Richard was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Richard Castiglione started his early music studies with his father in solfeggio, conducting and trumpet. He has earned the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Music and Music Education. l.

Mr. Castiglione was Director of Orchestral Studies at James Madison University where he conducted the Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and taught graduate and undergraduate conducting. Before his appointment at James Madison'University, Mr. Castiglione served as Chairman of the Music Division at The Boston Conservatory and Director of The Boston Conservatory Summer Institute at Great Woods. In addition to his administrative duties, he also conducted the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra.

Other positions held by Mr. Castiglione have been as instrumental director in public school music, Supervisor of Music for the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania school system, Dean of the Philadelphia Musical Academy (now The College of the Performing Arts) and President and Director of the Amherst Summer Music Center. Other conducting positions held by Mr. Castiglione were at the Manhattan School of Music, Philadelphia Musical Academy and Boston University. He continued to serve as guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States.

As a professional trumpet player and conductor, his performance credits include all the radio and TV networks in New York City performing for the Jackie Gleason, Kate Smith, Jack Paar Shows and the orchestras of NBC and CBS as well as Musical Director and Conductor for the Arlene Francis Show, Steve Lawrence and EdyieGorme, Polly Bergen and Giselle McKenzie. His recording credits include RCA, Columbia and MGM.

Mr. Castiglione is the recipient of two MENC Excellence in Performance awards; listed in Outstanding Educators of America, Who 's Who, Who 's Who in American Music and the International Who 's Who.

Members of his family include his wife, Laurel (Wardman) Castiglione, his Son, Richard, Jr. of Kittery, his daughter, Melissa Castiglione Thuet of Portsmouth, his grandchildren, Erin and Michael, his sister, Sally Hendrickson of Kingston, N.Y., several nieces and nephews. he was preceded in death by his siblings, Vincent, Harry and Peggy.

Visitation will be Friday from 9-10:45 a.m. in the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home, 125 Old Post Road Kittery, Maine. A Memorial Mass will follow at 11 a.m. in St. Raphael Church, Kittery. Family flowers only, please. Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter 383 U.S. Route 1, Suite 2C Scarborough, Maine 04074. Arrangements are entrusted to the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home, Kittery, Maine.

Visit www.fosters.com/obits for an online guest book.