In 1967, I began making batons for the conductors of the New York Metropolitan Opera National Company. As a musician in the orchestra, I was able to make batons for each of the 4 conductors' requests. Through the years I have made batons for over 100 conductors. In 2004, I was interviewed by Fred Childs on National Public Radio about my baton business.
I have had the honor of making batons for well-respected conductors, including:
Riccardo Muti, Itzhak Perlman, Andre Watts, James DePreist, Bernard Haitink, Carlos Kalmar, Hannu Lintu, Michele Mariotti, Daniele Gatti, Ken-David Masur, Jean-Marie Zeitouni, Michael Stern, Louis Lane, Murry Sidlin, Christoph Konig, Josephine Lee, George Garrett Keast, Jun Maerkl, Gregory Vajda, Robert LaMarchina, Samuel Krachmalnik, Lawrence L. Smith, Dale Clevenger, Jay Friedman, Eugene Tzigane, Jeff Tyzik, James Lowe, Florian Krumpöck, Eivind Gulberg Jensen, Rune Bergmann, Olari Elts, Charles Floyd, Danny Kaye, Jonathan Pasternack, Huw Edwards, Larry Kenton, Olivier Ochanine, Han-Na Chang, Karel Mark Chichon, Fabio Luisi, Miran Vaupotic, Klaus Makela, Brett Mitchell and many others.
My process in constructing batons has evolved into using different materials. I currently make 2 shapes of handles and I like to work with cork. The most popular shape is a "teardrop", or the "Leonard Bernstein" model. The cork handle is larger and designed in a wedge shape. I copied the design from an actual baton owned by Leonard Bernstein.
Each and every baton is custom made by me. I offer a personalized stone or jewel embedded in the end of the handle. I can also embed monogram initials. If you have an idea or a sample of a baton you would like, I am able to work from a drawing, photocopy, or actual baton.