Saul Caston

American trumpet player and orchestra conductor (1901-1970).

Saul Caston was born Solomon Gusikoff Cohen on August 22, 1901 in New York City, N. Y. By age 11, Caston was a student of the famous trumpet teacher Max Schlossberg (1873-1936) of the Russian (or Russian Jewish) school of trumpet playing. Saul Caston also studied conducting with Abram Chasins. He joined The Philadelphia Orchestra (1918-1945), and became principal trumpet in the 1923-1924 season. In 1936, Caston, who was a protégé of conductor Leopold Stokowski, became associate conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra and was also conductor for The Reading Symphony Orchestra (1941-1944). His conducting experience led to his appointment as conductor of the Denver Symphony Orchestra for 19 seasons (1945-1964). Saul Caston died in Winston Salem, N. C. on July 28, 1970.