Honorees on the Wall of Stars

David Agard was a conductor and violinist who founded the B.C. Pops Orchestra. In addition to founding the B.C. Pops, Mr. Agard also was the artistic director and conductor. He served as ConcertMaster and principal second violin for the Tri Cities Opera, was the principal second violin for the Glimmerglass Opera and Northeast Pennsylvania Philharmonic. He was the guest conductor of the Onondaga Civic Symphony Orchestra and was a conductor for the Tri-Cities Opera. He is the artist in residence at Marywood University.

Ed Aswad was a local historian, writer of and photographer for many of the major events in our community. He's photographed several famous people including Billy Graham, three presidents that visited the Southern Tier and many local dignitaries.

John Bielenberg is a professor emeritus of the Theatre Department at Binghamton University, and is the founder of the Cider Mill Playhouse. He was involved behind the scenes with numerous productions, mixing technical work with acting and directing. He may be best known for playing Scrooge in A Christmas Carol for about 18 years.

Michael Carbone is a musician and educator.  He is a Music Teacher and director at Johnson City High School for 34 years, Jazz Director and teacher at Binghamton University and their Jazz Ensemble.  He is the leader of the popular local band "Splash", and coordinator of the July Fest Binghamton and the Binghamton Music and Jazz Festival.

Thomas Clune was a local musician and the organist at St. Mary's Church for many years. 

Santo Cofini was a renowned pianist who performed at several local venues. He joined forces with Butch Skeene in 1980 to wow crowds at countless nightclubs and bars.

Russell Colton was the founder of the Junior Binghamton Youth Symphony Orchestra, which he conducted for more than three decades.  He performed with several groups including the Binghamton Symphony Orchestra, the Downtown Singers, and the B.C. Pops.  In addition, Colton was a music teacher for the Binghamton City School District for 32 years. 

Anne Cotten was the founder of the Binghamton Madrigal Choir, which she then conducted for over 3 decades. Cotten was an honoree of Heart of the Arts and worked in SUNY Broome's department of fine and media arts.

John Covelli is a musician, director and conductor of various groups including the Binghamton Philharmonic. His impressive musical achievements encompass all facets of symphony, opera, ballet, pops, and concert piano throughout the United States, Europe, and in Asia, even extending to the creation and production of new and exciting musical events. Covelli was the music director and conductor for the International Repertory Orchestra, music director for a Company for Chamber Opera, Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope Concert Productions and served on the advisory board of the Goodwill Theater.

Alan Crabb was known for his tenor voice, his skill as a conductor and his compassion and inspiration as a teacher. He was co-founder, and artistic director of the Binghamton Downtown Singers and routinely conducted, taught and inspired hundreds of singers of all ages and musical abilities.

Pokey Crocker was the Executive Director of the Discovery Center for many years.  She was also the former Executive Director of the Tioga County Council of the Arts, a community volunteer and winner of many prestigious awards.

Richard Deacon was a longtime television and movie actor, who is famous for playing Mel Cooley on the Dick Van Dyke show. He also appeared in Leave it to Beaver. Normally typecast as a humorless or foul tempered authority figure, Deacon went on to appear in over 180 television series and movies.

Richard "Dick" DePofi was a well renowned tenor sax musician and teacher who played with many well known local and national artists.

Richard "Rick" DePofi was a producer, composer, arranger, musician, and engineer for such famous artists as Paul McCartney, Rosanne Cash, Kelly Clarkson, Elvis Costello, Janet Jackson, Diana Ross, and others.  His scoring included composing and arranging music for many television shows, commercials, and documentaries.  He was awarded the American Master Award at the Berkley College of Music.

Armando Dellasanta was a respected artist whose paintings, drawings and etchings are easily recognizable and reflect towns and villages throughout the Southern Tier region as well as New York City and Pennsylvania.

Don DeMauro was well known as a fine artist, sculptor, poet, arts administrator, curator, and entrepreneur.  He was a former associate professor emeritus of art at Binghamton University.  Founder and Director of Spool Contemporary Art Space.  

Anthony DiOrio had a musical career that spanned more than 50 years. He was a member of the Binghamton Community Orchestra, Binghamton Philharmonic Band, and Corning Symphony Orchestra.  He was the founder and manager of Tony Diorio's Blue Velvet Dance Band and was a saxophone player in the dance band as well as the Tony Diorio and Friends quarter. Diorio was a band instructor in the Vestal School District for 25 years.

Patricia Donahue is a singer-actor in Binghamton, New York who has been involved in numerous community opera and theater productions. In her early years, she performed as an alto in roles for the Tri-Cities Opera and as an actor in productions of the Valley Players of the Southern Tier, Binghamton Civic Theater, Susquehanna Players and other companies. She has performed three one-woman shows and was honored with her star in 1999.

Roy Ettinger was a guitarist and Teacher.  A graduate of Chenango Valley High School.  For many years he was a touring musician across the northeast.  A BMI recording artist and songwriter.  He is also an owner and instructor at the Roy Ettinger School in Binghamton for over 40 years.

Claus Evans is a retired educator with more than two decades worth of experience as an actor and performer at the Cider Mill Playhouse. Evans devoted his life and professional career to the performing arts and teaching the next generation of actors and singers how to perfect their skills. He performed the lead roles in Cider Mill productions of My Fair Lady, Little Shop of Horrors and A Christmas Carol to name a few, and has also donated his time and talents by performing at charitable events.

Helen Foley was the director of the Binghamton Central High School Theatre Department as well as the drama teacher of Rod Serling. A local teaching icon of more than 4 decades, she taught several people who became famous and earned Stars on the Walk of Fame as well. She was the founder of the Rod Serling Foundation and was even the inspiration of a character in an episode of the Twilight Zone. She received her star in 1997 and Binghamton High School named their theater after her.

Vic Fontaine was a famous singer in the Binghamton community who also performed all over the world.  He was the singer of the group Pat the Cat and his Kittens. He has several local albums over the years and was part of the group when it appeared on Steve Allen's Tonight Show in the 1950s.

Alma Fortez is a true icon not only locally, but also on the national stage, as well as worldwide.  Alma sang for the pop singing group "The Platters" and made several hit recordings.  Focusing on jazz, she toured with many legendary American performers.

Stuart Foster was a singer with a magnificent voice whose real name is Tamer Aswad. He was a big band singer with Tommy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo and many others and even had his own radio show.  Foster performed on the silver screen in the Fabulous Dorseys in 1947, Ina Ray Hutton and Her Orchestra in 1943 and the Galen Drake Show 11957.

Billy Fuster was a well-known local jazz drummer.

Anthony George was a long time actor in both television and movies. He is best known for his role as Don Corey in Checkmate, Burke Devlin and Jeremiah Collins in Dark Shadows and Dr. Will Vernon on One Life to Live. He appeared an episode in 65 different television shows. George was honored with his star on the Sidewalk of the Stars in 1991.

Bill Gorman was a well known actor, artist, teacher and a local legend in our community for many years. A founder of the Cooperative Art Gallery. Very active and honored member of the arts community for over 45 years starring in numerous theatrical productions throughout the Southern Tier and around the country. Well known for his role at the Cider Mill Playhouse as Ebeneezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol". 

Stuart Green is a producer, promoter and founder of Magic City Productions. He has promoted concerts for some of the biggest names in the music industry at many of the most famous venues in the Country.  Green was also the owner of the former Magic City Music Hall in Johnson City.

Gene Grey was a reporter, local film, music and theatre critic for the entertainment section of the Press and Sun Bulletin.

Al Hamme Renowned locally as well as nationally as a jazz saxophonist. Founder and director of the Jazz Department at Binghamton University. Other responsibilities while on the faculty of BU included Director of the Concert Band and wind chamber music program, director of undergraduate studies for the Department of Music. Served as the director of the Cornell Jazz Ensemble and chosen to be the first artistic director of the School of Jazz Studies for the NYS Summer School of the Arts Program. 

Nancy Hargrave Founding member of the Discovery Center of the Southern Tier and creator of the "Story Garden".  A teacher and mentor at the Discovery Center for over 30 years A New York State Teacher of the Year finalist. Still remains very active in the community.

Johnny Hart was a famous cartoonist and creator of bother the B.C. and Wizard of Id Comic Strips. He started his career by having cartoons published in the Saturday Evening Post, Collier's Weekly and other magazines. His biggest success, B.C., was created in 1957 and began national daily newspaper appearances in 1958. He donated several logos throughout Broome County including those for the B.C.  Transit, Broome County Parks, Meals on Wheels, American Red Cross, Broome County Celtic Pipe and Drum as well as the Celtic Kazoo band, the B.C. Open (which was one of the most popular trophies on the PGA tour), the Broome Dusters, B.C. Icemen and Southern Tier Independence Center.

Peyton Hibbitt was the Co-founder, Artistic director, music director and conductor for the Tri-Cities Opera. He was also the founder of the New York State Opera League and was an adjunct professor and co-director of the Masters of Music program with a specialization in opera at Binghamton University.  Hibbitt also conducted the Arturo Toscanini Symphony Orchestra in Parma, Italy.

Robert Keller was an artist and the founder of the Binghamton Sidewalk of Stars. He was the first curator of Roberson Museum of the Arts, a Professor Emeritus at Broome Community College, founder of the Cedar Art Gallery and Artist's Guild Gallery in Binghamton, a lifetime member of the Binghamton Fine Arts Society. His art has been shown in New York City, Kansas City, Florida, Atlanta, Columbus, Georgia and more. He was also the curator of the Thorn brook Hall Museum in Norwich.

John Kolcun played the accordion and volunteered entertainment throughout the community for over 40 years in a variety of settings. He was known to playing music for different nationalities, as well as Rock-n Roll and Country. Kolcun was the subject of a 2 page layout in National Geographic in 1985.

Naima Kradjian was an actress and singer and was the founder of First Night, the Schorr Family Theatre as well as the Goodwill Theatre. She's produced the opening ceremonies for the Empire State Games, she's hit the stage as an actress, performing as a recurring character on All my Children as well as writing, directing and serving as an Emmy judge for children's programming.

Keith Martin was an artist and the first director of the Roberson Museum and Science Center. Martin had a 15 minute show called the Treasure House that focused on a single item from the collection at Roberson and would teach people a history lesson.

Frank Mincolla was a producer and the vice president of the Music Corporation of America. He handled Raggedy Ann and Andy worldwide.

Pat Monforte was a well known singer, saxophone player and band leader from the Binghamton area.  He led a band called Pat the Cat and his Kittens. The band appeared on Steve Allen's Tonight Show in the 1950s. Monforte started playing tenor sax in the early 1950s, but switched to alto in the late 1950s.  He also had a band called Pat Monforte and the Vita-Tones.

Mary Lou Muratori  has made significant contributions to the arts in the Southern Tier as a performer, artistic director, accompanist and respected voice teacher. She is the accompanist for numerous professional and amateur singers. She's the solo soprano founder of A Company for Chamber Opera as well as the Muratori Voice Studio on Binghamton's West Side.

Albert Nocciolino is a world reknown producer and the founder of the Broadway Theatre League. He's won 3 Tony Awards, including Best Musical for Kinky Boots in 2013. He's produced or co-produced nearly 2 dozen Broadway shows. He's the President and CEO of NAC Entertainment, was a founding member and chairman of the National Touring Theatre Council and President of the Independent Presenters Network.  Nocciolino has over 30 years in the Theatrical Entertainment Business.

Bill Parker was a television and radio host whose career spanned more than 60 years. He started off as the voice of puppets on Chalk Talk, then went on to host the Ranch Club and did live commercials. In the 1960's, Parker created the Officer Bill Show, a hallmark of his career and Binghamton's television history. In the 1970s, Parker went to work at WNBF radio and continued his career for more than 4 decades. Parker was given the nickname the Dean of Broadcasting.

Sherry Russo was a dancer and choreographer.

Orazio Salati An artist and teacher. Taught art for over 33 years, NYSATA award winner of art teacher excellence. Winner of many awards for art and education. Served community on many boards and honored as a "Son of Arnara". Has the Orazio Salati Studio in Downtown Binghamton. 

Ron Sall was the Past President of the Arena and Forum board of directors, Co-Founder and President of Friends of the Forum Star Program.  President of the Downtown Binghamton Business Association and Coordinator of July Fest Binghamton and the BInghamton Music and Jazz Festival.

Carmen Savoca was the other co-founder of the Tri Cities Opera in 1949. Savoca served as the co-artistic director, producer and stage director of the Opera for nearly 50 years. He also served as vocal instructor for the Resident Artist Training Program. He also directed shows with the Cahutauqua Opera Association, Edmonton Opera, Arizona Opera, Oklahoma City Opera, Wichita Opera and the New York City Opera. A gifted singer, Savoca also served on the New York State Council on the Arts and was an adjunct professor and co-director of the Masters of Music Program at Binghamton University.

Rod Serling was an American screenwriter, playright, television producer, narrator and creator of the television series the Twilight Zone, which ran for 5 years and 156 episodes. He was also the co-writer of the Planet of the Apes along with nearly 20 other television series or movies. He was the first person to be honored with a star on the Sidewalk of Stars and also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was inducted into the television hall of fame and the science fiction hall of fame. TV guide ranked Serling #1 on its 25 greatest Sci-Fi legends list.

Bernard Shifrin was a music teacher at Binghamton High School as-well as the founder of the Binghamton Youth Symphony. While in college at Ithaca College, Shifrin played trumpet in several professional big bands and jazz bands. He contracted and performed for several musical acts at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. Shifrin conducted the Binghamton Philharmonic Band, directed the Temple Israel Choir but his musical pride and joy was the Binghamton Youth Symphony, which he founded in 1961.

Marian Simpson For over 35 years as a full time artist/instructor and gallery owner. Taught workshops throughout 15 states and 20 countries. Member of many local artist guilds. An integral part of the Fine Arts Society of the Southern Tier (FASST).

Butch Skeene was a singer, who performed all around Broome County. His was the leader of Butch Skeene and the 2"d Edition. Later, he joined the Platters and toured the world. In 1980, he returned to Binghamton and teamed up with Santo Cofini to play at Zanzibar for over 3 years straight. He is the most recent star on the Walk of Fame.

Duane Skrabalak is a solo pianist and the longtime artistic director of the Tri-Cities Opera. He conducted 107 full-scale opera productions and many chamber productions and excerpt programs. He also served as the chorus master, vocal coach, and accompanist for Tri-Cities Opera. In addition, he served as Director of the Masters of Music with Specialization program at Binghamton University.

Val Stevens was well known music teacher and entertainer. His singing career landed him appearances on the Arthur Godfrey and Perry Como shows and performed at many venues in Miami and South Florida. He performed with various bands and musical groups into his 70s. His singing style was patterned after Frank Sinatra and he performed songs done by Perry Como and Tony Bennett.

Leroy "Slam" Stewart was a jazz bass player who performed with the likes of the Benny Goodman sextet and Dizzy Gillespie. He recorded 8 studio albums including Slam Barn, which was released in 2000.  Stewart taught at Binghamton University.

Fritz Wallenberg was a director and the founder of the Binghamton Symphony Orchestra, which became known as the Binghamton Philharmonic. He also played cello in the Indianapolis Symphony for a year. In 1968, he secured the patent for a page turning device to help musicians and conductors.

Timothy "Tim" Ward was a musician and promoter who promoted live music and community entertainment.  He was a long time member of the BC Celtic Pipe and Drum Band.  He owned and operated McGirks Irish Pub where he showcased hundreds of bands - local, national, and international which contributed to the success of many local bands through his steadfast promotion of live music.

Searle Wright was a master of both the classic and theater pipe organ. He was president of the American Guild of Organists and wrote music that church choirs have been singing for more than half a century. He performed at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City. Wright also taught at Binghamton University.

Helene Yelverton was a well-known dancer and became the first woman to be honored with a star on the Walk of Fame in 1996. She started her career performing as a dance soloist with the Endicott Johnson Band and Orchestra at the age of 12. A student of Helen Foley, Yelverton went to the American School of Ballet in New York City. Yelverton served on the faculty of both Ithaca College and SUNY Broome before opening her own school where she's taught more than 12 thousand students over 5 decades

Angelo Zuccolo was an actor, director, writer, humorist and founder of the SUNY Broome Community College Little Theatre. He performed on stage, in film and television worldwide. He directed over 300 stage and media productions and was the author of a myriad of playscripts, teleplays and short stories.  He was also a professor at SUNY Broome.

Brian Frey Worked at WSKG for over 30 years as a writer and producer. Has won 12 NYS Broadcasters awards. His documentaries have won 3 Emmys and 12 Emmy nominations. For a complete list of documentaries and accomplishments visit www.wskg.org.

Benny Fiacco life long resident and musician who played with many national acts, owner of Music City music store for over 40 years.

Download the Wall of Stars Nomination Form here