Boots Mussulli

Paul M. Alberta


Mr. Alberta began his musical career in a small suburban community near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  For five years he was a member of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, a member of the Pittsburgh Junior Orchestra, and was twice a guest soloist with The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

In 1959, Mr. Alberta entered the Boston Conservatory of Music sponsored by a foundation scholarship presented to him through audition.  While attending this school, he was a member of the Conservatory Orchestra, Concert band, Chamber Ensembles, guest conductor of  the concert Band, and played for the Broadway Show productions for three years.  He was President of Kappa Gamma Psi for two years and national secretary for two years.  Upon Graduation from the Conservatory, he was presented an award for outstanding qualities of character and leadership.

In 1963, Mr. Alberta went to Norwood, Massachusetts as Director of the Norwood Junior High School Band and assistant at the high school; at the same time he directed the school's newly-formed Stage Band.  In September 1966, he was appointed Director of Music, and in 1996 the Director of Fine Arts for the Norwood Public Schools until his retirement in June of 2002.  Under Mr. Alberta's direction the Norwood High School Mustang Marching Bands, the Norwood High School Symphony Bands, and the Norwood High School Jazz Ensemble have appeared at many national and international festivals and competitions, a nine country tour of Europe, as well as the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami, Florida.
In Sept. of 2012, the Norwood School Committee unanimously voted to name the Performing Arts Center and the Fine Arts wing at the Norwood High School after him.

During the past 50 years, Mr. Alberta has inspired well over 100 students to enter the field of music education or performance.  Among those are international renowned jazz artists, Director and arranger of the National Coast Guard Academy Band, performers in military bands, including the President's Own Marine Band, international orchestras, and associate principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra and principle trumpet of the Cincinnati Orchestra.

Mr. Alberta has been and continues to be in demand as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician throughout the nation.

 

 

 

 

 

Awards section

The Bands have won numerous national and international awards for their musical and field excellence.  Included among these awards are gold medals in the International Music Festivals, All-American Festivals, Down Beat Dee-Bee Awards, MusicFest National Champions, and Branson Cup National Champions.  Mr. Alberta has also taught music education courses at the New England Conservatory.
Mr. Alberta is a member of the Norwood Teachers Association, Mass. Teachers Association, Music Educations National Conference, Mass. Music Educators Association, Mass. Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association, and International Association of Jazz Educators.  He has served as: host chairperson for the Southeastern Mass. District Festival and Festival Auditions; Band manager for the Southeastern Mass. District Concert Festival; audition adjudicator for District, All-State and All-Eastern Music Festivals; MMEA as public relations director for two years; president of MICCA for three years; and president of IAJE for two years.  He is the recipient of the Lowell Mason Award, 1989 MICCA Conductor of the Year (Mass. Hall of Fame) Award, 2002 IAJE Lifetime Achievement Award, 2002 MMEA Distinguished Service Award, Official Town of Norwood Seal, MAC Award, Massachusetts Alliance for the Arts in Education Outstanding Teacher Award, three time recipient of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Official Seal of Proclamation for Outstanding Musical Achievement, the 2003 Boston Conservatory Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Massachusetts Lions Club's prestigious Melvin Jones Award, the Progressive Melvin Jones Award; the MICCA and the Norwood Parents Music Association present annual scholarships in his honor; appointed to the board of overseers at The Boston Conservatory in 2004-present.  He was invited to guest conduct the All-Eastern United States Honors Jazz Ensemble in 2011; appointed to the Board of Directors of the Lowell Mason Foundation Committee in 2011.