Aldo Rafael Forte is an internationally renowned composer with many published and recorded works to his credit. Forte is presently Composer/Arranger with the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band at Langley AFB, VA. and Adjunct Professor of Composition at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. Born in Havana, Cuba, Forte came to the United States at the age of nine and is now a citizen of the U.S.A. He spent his formative years in Huntsville, Alabama and was introduced to music at an early age by his father, a professor of mathematics and amateur classical guitarist and guitar maker. Forte credits the encouragement of both of his parents, Dr. Aldo Forte and Maria Forte, with his active pursuit of composition. Forte has studied composition with Ross Lee Finney, William Presser, and Robert Jager. He holds music degrees from Tennessee Technological University and the University of Southern Mississippi. Forte has composed a variety of works ranging from chamber pieces to major compositions for band and orchestra. He has received commissions from many musical ensembles. His works have been performed and/or recorded by such diverse groups as the Southwest German Radio Orchestra, the Filharmonie Bohuslav Martinu Orchestra of the Czech Republic, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, and by many bands including those of The University of Georgia, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, The University of North Texas, Kansas State University, the Piedmont Wind Symphony of Winston-Salem, NC, the Mobile Symphonic Pops Band, the University of Alabama, the USAF Heritage of America Band, and "The President's Own" United States Marine Band. Internationally his band works have been performed by the National Dutch Youth Wind Band, the Militarmusik der Voralberg of Bregenz, Austria, the Wind Ensemble of the Queensland Conservatorium in South Bank, Queensland, Australia, and the University Wind Orchestra of the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts in Perth. His music has been heard at such places as Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City, the J.F.K. Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and at numerous music conventions including MEA conventions in Kansas, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, New Mexico, several CBDNA/NBA regional conventions, and at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL Several All State Bands including those of Texas, Tennessee, New Mexico, Minnesota, and Kentucky have performed his music.

Forte is a member of ASCAP and is the recipient of several ASCAP Special Awards. He was awarded First Place in the 2001 National Federation of Music Clubs American Music in the United States Armed Forces Composition Competition. He has also received composition fellowships from the Cintas Foundation and the Alabama State Council on the Arts and is listed in the brand new CD - Rom Edition of The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. Since the year 2000 his music has received more than 300 performances. Forte's music is recorded on over 30 CDs on such labels as Mark Custom Recording Service, Bayer Records (Qualiton Imports), Klavier Records, Summit Records, the German labels Deutsche Schallplatten Berlin and Smalltown Records, and on many Air Force Band recordings.

Forte composes on commission and is active as a clinician and conductor of his music.

Website: http://AldoForte.com