Popular local musician Arthur Kreinberg passed away peacefully at Abington Manor Nursing Home in Clarks Summit. Art was born in 1941, son of the late Arthur and Elizabeth Bessmer Kreinberg. He is survived by his sister, Sylvia Serpiello, Sellersville, PA, and nieces Dawn Freeman and Leigh Edelman.
He was a graduate of Scranton Central High School where he studied under the tutelage of band director, the late Patrick Marcinko II, and Wilkes College. He also attended Berklee College of Music.
Art toured with the Glenn Miller Band and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. He performed locally with the Ferdie Bistocchi Orchestra, Gene Dempsey Orchestra, Northeastern Philharmonic, the Fran Burne Quartet, Doug Smith Jazz Quintet, Jim Buckley and Friends, the Tony Costa Trio, Julian Sparacino’s improv groups, poet, Lucia Dailey, and Blues guitarist Jack Wargo.
Art also performed with internationally acclaimed jazz pianist Bob Degen. Art played trombone with the Scranton Philharmonic, once under the baton of legendary conductor Leopold Stokowski. He performed in concerts at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple with Johnny Mathis and Doc Severenson, leader of the Tonight Show Band. He played in the Scranton Recreational Band under the direction of Pat O’Hearn. He also taught music at North Scranton Junior High School.
Art played trombone, trumpet, and piano equally well. He was a gifted arranger who could write directly from his head to manuscript and he was blessed with perfect pitch. Art possessed a great off-beat sense of humor and published two volumes of his original cartoons. He shared his gifts in teaching and mentoring many local musicians, including Marko Marcinko and Tony Marino. He was a life-long member of The Scranton Local #120 of the American Federation of Musicians.
A memorial service for Art will be held at a later date.
