Simone Mantia

Simone Mantia
Simone Mantia around the turn of the century
Background information
Born	1873 Palermo, Sicily
Died	1951 Flushing, New York, USA
Genres	Concert Band
Occupation(s)	Performer, composer and conductor
Instruments	Euphonium and Trombone
Years active	1890-1951
Labels	Edison Records and Victor Talking Machine
Website	http://www.simonemantia.com

Simone Mantia (6 February 1873 – 25 June 1951) was an American baritone horn/euphonium virtuoso and also trombone artist at the turn of the twentieth century. He was both a performer and administrator with many American band and orchestral ensembles. On baritone/euphonium he is often cited as the master of the instrument in his time.

Simone Mantia was born on 6 February 1873 in Palermo, Sicily. In 1890, at the age of 17, he immigrated to the United States along with his family. He would spend much of his life in and around New York City, performing in many ensembles and also teaching privately. In later years, he resided with his wife in a very small New York apartment. Simone Mantia died on 25 June 1951 in Flushing New York. He was survived by his wife.

Mantia is remembered by his students as “very kind, very modest, and very unassuming” as well as just generally having been a “nice guy” who rarely allowed any frustration or anger to enter into his demeanor. He suffered from a speech deficit, though what portion of that may have been merely accent is not well documented.

Simone Mantia began, like many Italian baritone masters, playing alto horn at the age of 9. At age 12, he started lessons on valve trombone and the larger baritone horn. By the time he arrived in New York, he played with sufficient proficiency to earn a living in music. He jobbed initially with groups including the Jules Levy and Schneider Bands on baritone/euphonium and the Brooklyn Opera on valve trombone – switching to slide trombone in only a week when so required to keep the gig.

In 1895, he replaced Josef Michele Rafayollo, with whom he had been studying, as soloist with the Sousa Band. This was the first nationally known ensemble he performed with, and one of only two in which he played euphonium primarily. As a trombonist, he later took jobs with other nationally ranked ensembles including New York’s Metropolitan Opera, which he joined in 1908 and remained involved with for 37 years. He also played trombone with The New York Philharmonic, The NBC Symphony, The Chicago Lyric Opera, The Philadelphia Grand Opera, Victor Herbert’s Orchestra, and the Arthur Pryor Band in which he primarily served as baritone/euphonium soloist and assistant director (often referred to as Pryor’s “second in command”)