Simone Mantia

Simone Mantia (6 February 1873 – 25 June 1951) was an American baritone horn/euphonium virtuoso and also trombone artist at the turn of the twentieth century. He was both a performer and administrator with many American band and orchestral ensembles. On baritone/euphonium he is often cited as the master of the instrument in his time.

Life Simone Mantia was born on 6 February 1873 in Sciacca, Italy. In 1890, at the age of 17, he immigrated to the United States along with his family. He would spend much of his life in and around New York City, performing in many ensembles and also teaching privately. In later years, he resided with his wife in a very small New York apartment. Simone Mantia died on 25 June 1951 in Flushing, New York. He was survived by his wife.

In 1895, he replaced Josef Michele Rafayollo, with whom he had been studying, as soloist with the Sousa Band. This was the first nationally known ensemble he performed with, and one of only two in which he played euphonium primarily. As a trombonist, he later took jobs with other nationally ranked ensembles including New York's Metropolitan Opera, which he joined in 1908 and remained involved with for 37 years, He also played trombone with The New York Philharmonic, The NBC Symphony, The Chicago Lyric Opera, The Philadelphia Grand Opera, Victor Herbert's Orchestra, and the Arthur Pryor Band in which he primarily served as baritone/euphonium soloist and assistant director (often referred to as Pryor's "second in command")

Mantia held many jobs in music beyond that of performer. He left the Sousa band with Arthur Pryor to help Pryor found and run his group. Like all performers, he also took private students, though a student recalled him as "not very good at all" when it came to teaching those less gifted than himself.

His diversity of musical endeavor as well as his fame as a soloist led to C.G. Conn Ltd., a maker of brass instruments, taking him on as a sponsored artist.

Trombone Mantia learned to play a used slide trombone in place of valve in only 5 days to keep his job with the Brooklyn Opera.