A Floridian for many years now, Dr. Fennell was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1914.  His first conducting experience came from the Interlochen's National Music Camp (1931-1933), which he attended as a percussionist.

    Frederick Fennell graduated from the Eastman School of Music with his bachelor's (1937) and master's (1939) degrees, and then joined the faculty of Eastman as a conductor of the Little Symphony and Symphonic Band.  Two of his early great contributions to the band world occured there: the founding of the Eastman Wind Ensemble, and international distribution of that group's recordings on the Mercury Record label.

    In 1965 Dr. Fennell came to the University of Miami to conduct both its Symphony and Wind Ensemble.  In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Fennell's growing list of symphonic conducting credits (including Minneapolis, Cleveland, Rochester, Boston Pops, and others) underscored not only his comprehensive musicianship, but the emergence of his wind ensemble as a major player in the development, interpretation, and performance of serious literature.

    Assigned as Music Director of the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra in 1984, Dr. Fennell again advanced the stature of the wind band through an extraordinary series of performances and recordings by this full time professional ensemble.  Having a profound effect upon the musicians of Japan, Dr. Fennell and the TKWO mentored a level of sophistication still revered by even the youngest of musicians there and abroad.

    Dr. Fennell is still extremely active as a conductor, clinician, editor, and interpreter of significant literature for wind band.  Frederick Fennell Hall was dedicated in Kofu, Japan, with a concert by the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra on July 17, 1992.

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