Vincent Cichowicz was born on August 27th, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois.  He began playing cornet at a local Boys Club in 1941 at age 13.  Cichowicz began to study with cornetist George Albrecht and later from Chicago Symphony Orchestra trumpeter and legendary trumpet designer, Renold Schilke.  At age 17, after graduating from Harrison High School, Mr. Cichowicz joined the Houston Symphony Orchestra as Third/Assistant Principal Trumpet per the recommendation of Mr. Schilke. 

In 1945 Mr. Cichowicz was drafted into military service and became a member of the Fifth Army Band.  After eighteen months of service and the end of the Second World War, he returned home to Chicago.  Upon his return, he enrolled at Roosevelt University and continued to study with Renold Scilke.  Mr. Cichowicz performed as a member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra, under the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Associate Conductor, Tauno Hannikainen and began to take some lessons with Adolph “Bud” Herseth, the new Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  He also became a member of the Grant Park Orchestra, performing under conductors such as Nikolai Maiko, Erich Leinsdorf, Antal Dorati, and Arthur Fiedler.  He maintained his position in the Grant Park Orchestra many years into his career in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

In 1952, Vincent Cichowicz became a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as 4th  Trumpet and moved to 2nd  Trumpet in 1960.  During his 23 year tenure in the CSO, Cichowicz performed under music directors Rafael Kubelik, Fritz Reiner, Jean Martinon and Sir Georg Solti as well as renowned guest conductors including Igor Stravinsky, Sir Thomas Beecham, Paul Hindemith, George Szell, Eugene Ormandy, Morton Gould, Otto Klemperer and Leonard Bernstein.  He was also a member of the CSO Brass Quintet and performed on the Grammy Winning Album, The Antiphonal Music of Giovanni Gabrieli, featuring the brass sections of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  Mr. Cichowicz retired from the CSO in 1975 to dedicate himself solely to teaching. 

Vincent Cichowicz became a member of the music faculty at Northwestern University in 1959.  In 1974, he was appointed to a full-time position as Professor of Trumpet where he remained until his retirement in 1998. Mr. Cichowicz presented masterclasses worldwide and spent many summers as a faculty member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (1980-2002) and the Domaine Forget Music Festival in Charlevoix, Quebec (1986-2004). 

In 1995 Vincent Cichowicz was appointed Musical Director of the Millar Brass Ensemble, a large brass ensemble made up of many of Chicago’s finest brass musicians. He led this ensemble until his passing in 2006. 

In addition to Mr. Cichowicz’s contributions as a trumpet player, educator and conductor he also served as a member of the steering committee responsible for the founding of the International Trumpet Guild and as a member of the advisory board for The Instrumentalist magazine.  He received numerous awards including the Northwestern University, Legends in Teaching Award in 1998, the European Chapter of the ITG, Special Achievement Award in 1997 and the International Trumpet Guild’s highest recognition, being presented the organization’s  Honorary Award in 1999.

Vincent Cichowicz passed away on December 11th, 2006.  He left a tremendous legacy as a musician and teacher.  His many recordings as a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as his long list of prominent performers and educators who were his students, will continue to influence brass musicians for generations to come.