Philip Egner | |
---|---|
Born | April 17, 1870 New York, New York, United States |
Died | February 3, 1956 | (aged 85)
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service | U.S. Army |
Years of service | 1898–1901 1909–1934 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | 17th Infantry Regiment U.S. Military Academy |
Commands | West Point Band |
Awards | Spanish Campaign Medal |
Spouse(s) | Anna Habsen |
Philip Egner (April 17, 1870 – February 3, 1956) was a U.S. military bandmaster who served as longtime director of the U.S. Army's West Point Band.
As a child, Egner was a musical prodigy. During his early career he performed with the Metropolitan Opera and New York Philharmonic, but left civilian life to join the U.S. Army at the outbreak of the Spanish–American War, spending three years in the Philippines as bandmaster of the 17th Infantry Regiment. He would later be appointed band director at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and is best remembered for composing "On, Brave Old Army Team", West Point's fight song.