Beyond our Elusive William Daniel

He was introduced to music at an early age, being the son of a music teacher and conductor. When he was four he conducted a children's band. He studied music in New York at the Eastman School of Music as well as the Salzburg Mozarteum and the St. Cecilia Academy in Rome. Later, he became a conductor of the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra and the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra. (Handbook of Texas Online, www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online, © The Texas State Historical Association, updated 4 Dec 2002, Theodore Albrecht author) He became director of the San Antonio Symphony in 1951, and continued in that position for twenty five years.

During the time he was in New York, and while still in his teens, he became a Federal Music Project conductor. This helped him to obtain his position in the Oklahoma City Symphony, which was a combined WPA and private civic organization. (Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan 1950)

On the 28 Apr 1938 he arrived in New York on the ship Conte Di Savoia which had departed from Naples, Italy. He was aged 22, single, born in Waco, Texas on 27 Nov 1915. His address was Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.

After the death of Max Reiter, conductor of the San Antonio Symphony, in December 1950, he filled in as conductor in San Antonio while he continued to fulfill his Oklahoma City obligations including weekly radio concerts for the Mutual System. In January 1951 he was hired permanently to lead the San Antonio Symphony.

During his career he also performed as guest conductor of many orchestras.

Texas State Death Certificate:
He was Victor N. Alessandro, born 27 Nov 1915 in Texas. His residence was 711 Garraty Rd., Terrell Hills, Bexar, Texas. He spent 3 months, 25 days in the Bexar County Hospital in San Antonio, Texas where he died 27 Nov 1976 at 1:30 AM. He was married. His usual occupation was Conductor Emeritus, Symphony Orchestra. His father's name was Victor Alessandro, and his mother's name was Josephine Kemendo. He was never in the armed forces. The cause of death was cardio pulmonary arrest, due to hypoxia, due to another cause which is hard to read. An autopsy was performed. He was cremated by Roselawn Memorial Park Crematory.

(Medical):See attached sources.