RAYMOND A. ASCIONE
Commander, U.S. NAVY (Retired)

Commander Raymond A. Ascione retired from 35 years of active naval service in September 1994. During his long and distinguished career, his assignments as a clarinet and saxophone instrumentalist and professional bandmaster, included tours with the Naval Academy Band as an instrumentalist, Assistant Leader, and Leader; Operations Officer and Assistant Leader of the Navy Band in Washington DC; Director of the Navy Music Program, and Commanding Officer of the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, VA.

Since retiring in the Annapolis area, Commander Ascione remains very active musically as a performer, educator, and consultant. His performing skills as a saxophonist and clarinetist with local swing bands are well known and respected, and he also performs with several small combos in the local area, including his own quartet, "The Casuals".

Working as a substitute teacher in Anne Arundel County, he has completed several long-term assignments as band, orchestra, and choral director for many of the county music educators. His work as the jazz ensemble director at Annapolis and Broadneck High Schools has been instrumental in reviving those programs. As an Adjunct Faculty Member of the Music Department at Anne Arundel Community College, he directs the Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band, and teaches applied music. These ensembles have come into prominence throughout the county, and the music department is a contributing factor to the nationally recognized excellence of Anne Arundel Community College. He also has been the Music Director, for the last eight seasons for the college's drama troupe, "The Moonlight Troupers". He has earned the reputation throughout the East Coast as a highly regarded band clinician and adjudicator, and is much in demand as a private instrumental instructor and musical consultant for area high school and middle school band directors. His private instrumental studio has produced many all county and all state performers, and motivated several to higher musical training and careers in military music.

Commander Ascione received his bachelor's degree in music from St. Leo College in 1979, and his Masters of Science Degree in Human Resources Management from Troy State University in 1993. He holds membership in the National Band Association, The Fleet Reserve Association, and The Retired Officers Association, and is a native of New Castle, PA. He and his wife Shirley have three sons, all of whom have chosen careers as professional military musicians.

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