Barbara A. Favorito
1945 -
She was the founding conductor of the La Sierra University Wind Ensemble and Director of Wind and Percussion Studies from 1990 to 2005, teaching conducting and music education classes. From 2000 to 2004 she also served as Chair of the Department of Music.
Favorito has previously held a number of conducting posts, including Artistic Director/Conductor of the Riverside Master Chorale (1991-2001), Artistic Director and Founding Conductor of the Southern California Young Artists Symphony (1991-1997), Artistic Director and Founding Conductor of the Colorado Concert Chorale, and Director of Bands at Andrews University. She has served as a guest conductor of wind ensembles, bands, orchestras, and choirs in over thirty-five states as well as Canada, Mexico, South America, and Europe.
Raised in Wyoming, Favorito began her music study in the Wyoming public school system. Although she wanted to study trumpet, her mother objected, feeling it was not an appropriate instrument for a girl. Fortunately, at that time one of the finalists in the Miss America Contest played the Carnival of Venice on the trumpet as part of her presentation. Barbara had found her argument: "If Miss America can play . . . ."
By the end of her high school freshman year, she had become a valuable player in band and was beginning to have problems with Sabbath observance. Her parents became concerned and sent her to Campion Academy that fall. At that time, CA had a strong music program with Archie Devitt in band and Merrit Schumann in choir. Both men became an inspiration to her, and by the time of her graduation, she had decided to become a music teacher.
Favorito completed a degree in music education at Union College in 1967, with Melvin Hill as her major professor. Upon graduation she accepted a position as music teacher at Minneapolis Junior Academy. Late that fall, however, she was seriously injured in a car accident that prevented her from continuing to teach.
She returned to teaching in the fall of 1968, accepting the band position at Mile High Academy in Denver, Colorado. The following summer she married and stopped teaching music. She resumed teaching in 1973, teaching history and English in the junior high program at MHA for the next five years. During her stay in Denver she founded the Colorado Concert Chorale and conducted it for eight years.
In 1978 Favorito accepted a position at Fresno Adventist Academy in California. Although her assignment was to teach history, English, and "music as needed," by Christmas the choir and band program had grown so quickly that she was teaching music full-time. In 1981 she accepted the band position at Orangewood Academy, where the band program grew from fewer to ten students in the fall to well over 180 students and three bands by spring.
The following year Andrews University invited her to join the faculty, where she was responsible for the band program and music education classes. One of her first initiatives was to create a full Wind Ensemble for as an additional ensemble to complement the Symphonic Band and the Brass Ensemble.
While at AU, she began graduate music study at Indiana University, completing all requirements for an M.Mus. Ed. and an M.Mus. in conducting, the latter being awarded with highest distinction in1986. A year later she took a leave to continue study at the University of Miami and completed a D.M.A. in orchestra conducting at UM in 1990.
While at UM, Favorito received full scholarships in music performance, served as the Associate Director of the University Wind Ensemble and the Assistant Director of the University Symphony Orchestra and graduated with highest distinction. She studied and worked with noted conductors Robert Shaw, Sir David Willcocks, Hilmuth Rilling, Erich Leinsdorf, and Jon Robertson.
Favorito is a recipient of numerous academic and professional awards, including the Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Educational Journalism from the Educational Press Association of America (1994), Women of Achievement Award from the YWCA (1991, 1998), and Outstanding Women of La Sierra University (1998).
Her ensembles have traveled widely in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Her LSU Wind Ensemble was one of seven ensembles, bands, and orchestras nationwide invited to perform at the Christian Instrumentalists and Directors Association 2004 national convention.
She has written a number of articles for professional journals, including six for The Instrumentalist, three of which were lead articles. A charter member of International Adventist Musicians Association, she served as chair of the Adventist Instrumental and Band subdivision from 1985 until 1992, when the subdivision structure in IAMA ended.
Favorito is a member of numerous professional associations and was elected a member of Pi Kappa Lambda at IU (1986) and UM (1990). She is listed in several Who\'s Who publications.
ds/2005/2023
Sources: Professional resume, 2013, 2005; Interview, 1 October 2005 and additional information, December, 2013 ; La Sierra Today, Winter 1991, 12; Summer 1994; Spring 2001; Spring 2005, 31; Hole Notes, Winter 2001; IAMA Notes, Spring 1996, 20; personal knowledge.