At the end of December, the Harborfields High School Wind Ensemble premiered a composition dedicated to the late Bob Domencetti, one of the district’s beloved past band directors.

“When Bob suddenly passed away in 2014, we wanted to find a meaningful way to honor him through music,” said Harborfields High School Band Director Allison Scilla.

Many of Domencetti’s family, friends and former students, taken with the idea, helped fund a commission penned by world renowned composer Rossano Galante. Using knowledge shared about Domencetti’s life and work, Galante crafted and completed an encomium entitled “The Wishing Well” in the summer of 2018. The high school wind ensemble began rehearsing the piece in the fall.

A week prior to the premiere, Galante traveled from California to Harborfields High School to work with the band. He spent the day teaching and rehearsing with students, and he shared the good news that this composition will be published by G. Schirmer in 2019.

“Through publication and giving other schools the opportunity to perform ‘The Wishing Well’ Bob’s legacy will live on and grow,” said Harborfields K-12 Music Department Coordinator Daniel Bilawsky.

About Bob Domencetti
Robert V. Domencetti was a native Ohioan and a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College and Kent State University. He studied with conducting legends William Revelli, Fredrick Fennell, Frank Battisti, Fredrick Ebbs and Kenneth Snapp. During his 14 years of teaching in Ohio, his bands consistently received the state's highest ratings. After establishing himself as an educator of note in his home state, Mr. Domencetti moved to Greenlawn, NY, becoming the driving force behind the band program in the Harborfields Central School District. He became a valued member of the community, raising his children there, and went on to become the district's Director of Music. He continued to work as both a band director and administrator there until he retired in June of 1999. Bob was a friend and mentor to everyone he came in contact with during his years in the education profession and beyond. He is sorely missed by those who knew him.