He received his bachelor's degree from the Juilliard School, where he served on the faculty beginning in 1969. After his graduation from Juilliard, he served in the United States Army where he conducted the First Army band at Fort Jay on Governor's Island.
After receiving his bachelor's degree from the Juilliard School in 1969, he joined the United States Army and led the First Army band at Fort Jay on Governor's Island.