Phil Aguglia in his workshop (photo by WBFO's Nick Lippa).
When Eimear Noone made history at the Oscars Sunday night, becoming the event's first female conductor, she used a baton made by Fredonia alumnus Phil Aguglia.
Mr. Aguglia, who earned his Master of Music degree in Music Education from Fredonia in 1998, is the owner of PaGu Batons, a custom maker of precision handcrafted batons for conductors around the world, as well as other products (https://www.pagubatons.com/).
A South Buffalo native, Aguglia is a product of the Buffalo Public Schools music program. Following his high school years at Hutchinson Central Technical High School, followed by pursuit of a Bachelor of Music education degree at Ithaca College and master’s at Fredonia, Aguglia entered the field of music education. He has taught for over 20 years including positions in Medford, Mass., West Valley, Cleveland Hill in Cheektowaga and since 2002 at Kenmore East High School. In 2015, he was a semi-finalist for the GRAMMY Foundation Music Educator Award. He is also past chair of Music Is Art and is a sought-after conductor, clinician and speaker.
The baton made for Ms. Noone includes the iconic statue engraved into it, plus, a Buffalo.
To read more, go the WIVB-TV story online at https://www.wivb.com/news/local-baton-maker-helps-create-oscars-history/
