Alan Pierce, formerly the Oregon Symphony’s principal bass trombonist, has been handcrafting conducting batons for almost 45 years.
Alan Pierce, formerly the Oregon Symphony’s principal bass trombonist, has been handcrafting conducting batons for almost 45 years.
His batons have gained a following from famous conductors worldwide.
As he recently told Oregon Music News, he got into the business by chance.
I was a member of the Metropolitan Opera National Company’s tour and started to make them while on the bus. One of the conductors on the tour was Sam Krachmalnick . He always got his supply of batons in Europe, but he needed some more. I looked at what he had and told him that I could make one. We were in Tennessee at the time and made a stop. I went to a hardware store and bought some supplies. Back on the bus, I then proceeded to duplicate his baton as best as I could. I presented them to him, and he wanted some adjustments. Anyway, I got the hang of it and made some more. Some of the other conductors on the tour wanted them, and that’s how it all started.
Read a Q&A with Pierce at Oregon Music News.
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