Adolph Torovsky

Mr. Torovsky was born in Bohemia, now part of Czechoslovakia, on January 21st, 1868. He played in the 26th Hungarian Regiment Band in Vienna for seven years as a solo trumpet player, also playing violin, cello, and several other instruments. He studied with prominent musicians in Vienna including the famed waltz king, Johann Strauss, Jr. When his enlistment in the Hungarian Army expired in 1891, he came to America and settled in Baltimore.

In 1892 he joined the Naval Academy Band and rose quickly to the position of Assistant Leader. An Annapolis newspaper on April 19, 1907, lists him as violinist playing along with Charles Zimmerman in a string quartet and a violin quartet for a benefit concert at St. Mary's church. In 1913 he became conductor of the St. John's College Band and in that role composed "St. John's Forever," the school song, and the "Faculty March."

1916 Newspaper clipping announcing Mr. Torovsky's
appointment as leader of the Naval Academy Band.

Adolph Torovsky continued Zimmermann's tradition of class marches including the one for the Class of 1918, "Memories." The Class of 1918 carried on a tradition by presenting him with a gold medal embellished with two dolphins and a large golden sunburst. He also, as Zimmerman had done, provided assistance for the productions of the Masqueraders, and in the program for the 1917 production of Raffles he is thanked "for his extreme interest in the play, and for his successful efforts in procuring and rendering the Musical Selections".

Compositions by Mr. Torovsky include:
"Underway"
Class song and march, Class of 1919; words by A. S. Pitre
"Navy Blue and Gold"
Words are the same, but the melody precedes that of the USNA alma mater song.
"Triumphal March"
"Our Boys Overseas"
March
"Woodland Whispers"
Waltz
"The Army and the Navy"
March
"Memories"
Class song and march, Class of 1918, words by J. V. Lawyer and J. R. Sullivan
"March of the Middies"

(information from Mr. Bruce Horner)

HISTORY