At 101, Legendary Col. Arnald Gabriel Will Conduct on His Namesake Stage at Art on the Avenue

That musical tradition also continues through his son, Robert Gabriel, a Del Ray resident and musician. Like his father, Robert has made music an important part of his life.

For Robert, his father’s return to conducting continues an extraordinary family legacy. Over the decades, Col. Gabriel became known for his command of musical scores and his ability to inspire generations of musicians.

From World War II to the Conductor’s Podium

Arnald Gabriel was born May 31, 1925. During World War II, he served as a combat machine gunner with the U.S. Army’s 29th Infantry Division.

After the war, however, Gabriel followed another calling: music.

His career eventually took him to the U.S. Air Force Band. Gabriel served as its commander and conductor from 1964 until his retirement in 1985. He also led the Air Force Symphony Orchestra and Singing Sergeants.

Later, he became the Air Force Band’s first Conductor Emeritus. He also shared his experience with another generation of musicians while teaching at George Mason University.

Still, retirement never ended Gabriel’s relationship with the conductor’s podium.

A Promise to Conduct at 100

Years ago, Wheaton Municipal Band conductor Bruce Moss predicted Gabriel would still be conducting at 100. Gabriel promised to conduct the Illinois band when that birthday arrived.

Then, in May 2025, Gabriel turned 100.

Mobility issues prevented him from traveling to Illinois. Nevertheless, Gabriel was determined to keep his word.

A film crew recorded him conducting from home. During the Wheaton Municipal Band’s July concert, musicians followed his direction on video monitors.

Gabriel conducted “America the Beautiful” and John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman later featured the performance on “On the Road.”

For Gabriel, keeping a promise made years earlier reflected a principle that has guided his life.

“Your word is your bond,” he told CBS News.

A Hometown Return at Art on the Avenue

Now 101, Gabriel is preparing to raise his baton again. This time, he will do it before a hometown audience during one of Alexandria’s best-known community festivals.

The NOVA Concert Band will perform from noon to 1:15 p.m. on the Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel Band Stage at Art on the Avenue. Gabriel is expected to conduct two selections.

For son Robert Gabriel and his siblings, the occasion will also bring the family’s musical legacy closer to home in Del Ray.

More than eight decades after World War II, Col. Gabriel continues to demonstrate the power of music, commitment, and service. And at 101, he is not finished conducting yet.