2021 Lycoming College Summer Magazine

F A C U L T Y S P O T L I G H T Let the mu % ic play on I The next summer, Ciabattari attended band camp, and it was the first time he had ever auditioned for anything. “When they began to announce who made each band, I thought for sure I would be in the fourth band. Well, my name wasn't announced, and by the third and second band, I'm gushing because I’m a little kid and my name still hadn’t been called — I can't believe this is happening! I think I was ranked third chair out of everybody in the camp. I was just blown away, and it was very motivational. I kept practicing, and from that point on I was always first chair throughout school. I found something that I was good at, and that gave me validation.” The interesting part is that it really wasn't the music that Ciabattari was in love with. “I think I was in love with doing something that made me feel good about myself. It wasn't until the summer of tenth grade that I actually really fell in love with music itself.” He knew he wanted to pursue a career that would allow him to continue playing his instrument. Ciabattari joined the Lycoming faculty in 2006 as the conductor of the concert band and jazz ensemble in addition to teaching courses in music education, music theory, and instrumental conducting. He has since added to his teaching repertoire courses in music fundamentals and the music of other world cultures. In 2013, he founded the Lycoming College Community Orchestra, a then small college and community ensemble that has since grown to a full symphonic orchestra. Ciabattari relishes creating music with his students. When asked what he enjoys most, he quickly responded, “That’s easy! It’s when they give up their cares in the world and actually immerse — when they finally surrender to the music and are in the moment. And then they do well and realize the satisfaction of what that effort yielded. That is great to see, and it almost never happens during a concert.” W I L L I AM C I A BAT TA R I , P H . D . C H A I R A N D A S S O C I AT E P R O F E S S O R O F M U S I C t was in grade school when Bill Ciabattari first became interested in music. He skipped the sixth grade, so going from fifth to seventh grade, he lost much of his friend group except for his brother. “My brother introduced me to the tuba because he played the tuba, and I took to it,” recollected Ciabattari. “I decided to join the band. I practiced, and after four months, the director moved me up to the eighth and ninth grade band.”      26 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2021 SUMMER MAGAZINE