On Monday, March 30, friends, colleagues and former students of the late Bill Zaccagni gathered at the University’s Levitt Auditorium for a celebration of the life and music of the former Big Band director. 

The concert featured more than 200 musicians whose lives have been touched deeply by Billy Z and who wanted to pay tribute to him though performing his music. The event featured a saxophone septet, numerous versions of an alumni big band and a "friends" big band (with constantly changing personnel), well-know Philadelphia pop singer Bobby Rydell, and countless professional musicians who flew in from across the country to be part of the concert. Zaccagni’s sister Lorraine spoke and thanked the capacity crowd for coming out to support her brother’s memory and lauded all of the performers who contributed so much. Photo, above: Some of the many participating tribute concert performers.

        
Photo, left: Billy Z tribute concert performers; photo, right: Lars Hal conducts the Alumni Big Band.

A committee of professors, including Ron Kerber, Dennis Wasko, Joe Nero and Lars Halle, along with alumni Joe Vettori and Lorraine Zaccagni, organized the event. An annual award given to a graduating student has been established in Zaccagni’s name. The UArts Big Band will now be known as the "Z" Band in his honor.

Billy Zaccagni passed away in May 2007 after an eight-month battle with various health issues. He was a world-class saxophonist, composer, arranger, conductor and teacher who made a difference in the lives of thousands of musicians and people who knew him, and of every student and teacher in the School of Music for almost 30 years. He was a tremendous role model, mentor, confidant and leader who lived his life fully and enthusiastically. It is impossible to imagine Philadelphia, the University of the Arts, and all of our lives without him.

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