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A member of the New York Philharmonic for many years, William Vacchiano became one of America’s most accomplished trumpeters and teachers of music. He was born in Port-land, Maine, on May 23, 1912, the son of Ralph and Anna (née Crispi) Vacchiano, Ital-ian immigrants from Cicciano, near Naples. At an early age, William came under the in-fluence of a professor who conducted a band of local Italian musicians. Later, at age 14, his talent as trumpeter was recognized when Frank Knapp, the trumpeter of this local band, had him play for the developing Portland Sym-phony Orchestra. Having distinguished him-self in the band at Portland High School from which he graduated in 1930, Vacchiano had sought but failed to receive a scholarship from St. John’s University because of a difference in the academic point systems between Maine and New York.