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May-June 2001
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CMSgt (ret) LOU COPPOLA
Lou Coppola spent over 28 years with the Band following his enlistment
on October 23, 1956. During his tenure, he not only performed before presidents and kings, and traveled the world over, but he earned the distinction of being the first non-string-player to become noncommissioned officer-in-charge of The Air Force Strings.
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he was far more interested in sports than in music when his mother said, “Try the accordion for one month, and if you don’t like it, you never have to take music again.” Young Lou saw this as a way to escape to sports. Instead, the accordion turned into his lifelong vocation and avocation! At the age of 18, he became the first American to participate in the Coupe Mondiale, an international classical accordion solo competition, held that year in Brighton, England. Lou returned to America and had settled into a life of performing and teaching when his teacher, Rudy Molinaro, advised him to audition for an opening in The USAF Band because “You’ll travel the world,” and travel he did. With The Air Force Strings from the very beginning of his career, Europe and Asia-and virtually every Air Force base in the inventory-became his stomping grounds. However, some of his brightest memories are of performances in Washington, D.C. During the Kennedy administration, Lou and the Strings were featured on the cover of Life magazine with the president and first lady. However, it was another appearance at the White House, which provided one of the major highlights of his career: celebrated violinist Isaac Stern was the evening’s featured entertainment and Leonard Bernstein was a guest. Following the official function, Mrs. Kennedy asked a small ensemble, including Lou, to go upstairs to the family quarters and entertain Stern, Bernstein and their wives in the building's private family quarters. After awhile, Stern borrowed one of the instrumentalist’s violins, Bernstein found his way to the piano, and soon Isaac Stern, Leonard Bernstein and Lou Coppola were presenting a "trio" performance of the Mendelssohn violin concerto. Mrs. Kennedy snapped their picture, and the photo remains today one of Lou's cherished treasures from his AF days. Not only did the music continue when he retired as a CMSgt in 1985, his gigs have somehow managed to increase. On Friday and Saturday nights, Lou and three string players appear at the Officers’ Club in Fort Myer, Virginia, an engagement which has lasted 43 years, 16 of which have been during his “retirement.” Years ago, Lou established his own company, Stereo Strings, and with them he has become a fixture at weddings, embassy parties and corporate affairs throughout the Washington metropolitan area. Among these have been appearances at the Renwick Gallery, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Corcoran Gallery and Ronald Reagan National Airport with 28 strolling violinists for its new opening. His performances in the civilian domain have not been restricted to the D.C. area. Among other locations, Lou and his Stereo Strings have performed for United Technologies in Epcot Center at Florida’s Disney World complex in Florida, and for Lucent Technologies in Palm Springs, California. He also became the adopted “good luck charm” for Atlanta’s bid for the Summer Olympics, and appeared numerous times in Atlanta, as well as in Seoul, Tokyo, Barcelona and, of course, in D.C. In his “free” time, Lou has contributed extensive research on former Air Force Strings personnel, and thanks to his efforts, there now exists a comprehensive directory of all former and present USAF string instrumentalists and Air Force Strings members. Lou Coppola’s exciting and productive life is once again graphic proof that there really is a wonderful “life after Bolling.” -CMSgt (ret) Harry Gleeson |