William Sabatini

"William Sabatini was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 10, 1925. In Philadelphia, William Sabatini studied at Temple University. William Sabatini said in interviews that he studied at the Curtis Institute 215, but Curtis records do not show him to have graduated. William Sabatini was Principal horn of the San Francisco Symphony, appointed by Pierre Monteux in the second part of the 1946-1947 season. Sabatini remained Principal horn for the subsequent nine seasons 1946-1955. With the arrival of Enrique Jorda, William Sabatini moved to the Symphony of the Air in New York City in 1955-1956. William Sabatini then became Principal horn of the Detroit Symphony under Paul Paray in 1956-1963. Following the departure of Enrique Jorda, William Sabatini then returned to the San Francisco Symphony under Josef Krips as Co-Principal horn with Ross Taylor in the 1963-1964 season. The next season, Sabatini was Co-Principal horn with Herman Dorfman, which he continued 1964-1971. Seiji Ozawa moved William Sabatini to the Assistant Principal horn chair in 1971-1972, where he remained for nine seasons 1971-1980. Then, under Edo de Waart, William Sabatini became Associate Principal horn from the 1980-1981 season until the first part of 1987-1987 season. While in San Francisco, Sabatini was also active in chamber music, including being a founding member of the Camara Brass Quintet: William Sabatini horn, Wilbur Sudmeier trombone, Edward Haug trumpet, Ronald Bishop tuba and Chris G. Bogios trumpet. William Sabatini died in Berkeley, California on December 14, 1989 not long after retiring from the San Francisco Symphony.