J. Frank Elsass (March 3, 1913 – January 1, 1981) was an American

cornet The cornet (, ) is a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but distinguished from it by its conical bore, more compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B, though there is also a sopr ...

soloist. He was the assistant cornet soloist with the

Goldman Band The Goldman Band was an American concert band founded in 1918 by Edwin Franko Goldman from his previous New York Military Band. Both bands were based in New York City. It was Goldman's contention that the New York symphony and orchestra musici ...

from 1934 to 1940. He was also a member of the Barre Little Symphony from 1937 to 1940.

Early life

John Frank Elsass was born on March 3, 1913, in Waynesburg, Ohio, the son of John W. Elsass and Florence L. Dieringer. Professionally, he went by the name "Frank Elsass".

Education

Frank Elsass earned a master's degree in Music from New York University and a doctorate from the University of Texas. He was a student at the Ernest Williams School of Music and later served on the faculty there.

The Goldman Band

In 1934, Edwin Franko Goldman discovered Frank Elsass and hired him at age 19 to be a cornet soloist in the

, assisting

Del Staigers Charles Delaware Staigers was an American cornetist. He was born on August 20, 1899 in Muncie, Indiana. In 1914, he was hired to play in Patrick Conway's band. In 1918, he joined John Philip Sousa's band as the assistant to cornet soloist Frank ...

. Elsass stayed with the band through the 1940 season, serving as a reliable assistant cornet soloist to

, David Rosebrook and

Leonard B. Smith (Musician) Leonard Bingley Smith (September 5, 1915 – July 23, 2002) was an American cornet soloist, conductor, and composer. Early life Smith was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. He began to study cornet at the age of eight. After three years of study, h ...

, as well as a member of the famed

cornet trio "The Three Aces".

Faculty Positions

In 1941, Frank Elsass accepted a position as a brass instructor at San Jose State College. He left this position in 1942 and joined the US Navy, serving there through 1945. In 1948 he accepted a position as professor of trumpet and cornet and conductor of the symphonic band at the University of Texas at Austin where he remained through 1978.

Awards

American Bandmasters Association 1966

Death

Frank Elsass died of a rare and little known disease at the age of 67 on January 1, 1981. He is interred at Sandy Valley Cemetery, Waynesburg, Ohio.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elsass, Frank 1913 births 1981 deaths American cornetists People from Stark County, Ohio San Jose State University faculty