Frank Elsass

John Frank Elsass was born on March 3, 1913, in Waynesburg, Ohio, the son of John W. Elsass and Florence L. Dieringer.[4] Professionally, he went by the name "Frank Elsass".

Frank Elsass earned a master's degree in Music from New York University and a doctorate from the University of Texas. He was a student at the Ernest Williams School of Music and later served on the faculty there.[5]

In 1934, Edwin Franko Goldman discovered Frank Elsass and hired him at age 19 to be a cornet soloist in the Goldman Band, assisting Del Staigers.[1] Elsass stayed with the band through the 1940 season,[2] serving as a reliable assistant cornet soloist to Del Staigers, David Rosebrook and Leonard B. Smith (Musician), as well as a member of the famed Goldman Band cornet trio "The Three Aces".

In 1941, Frank Elsass accepted a position as a brass instructor at San Jose State College.[3] He left this position in 1942 and joined the US Navy, serving there through 1945.[5] In 1948 he accepted a position as professor of trumpet and cornet and conductor of the symphonic band at the University of Texas at Austin[5] where he remained through 1978.

American Bandmasters Association 1966

Frank Elsass died of a rare and little known disease at the age of 67 on January 1, 1981. He is interred at Sandy Valley Cemetery, Waynesburg, Ohio.