Blase Scarnati (1935 – 2007) began his career at Slippery Rock State College in 1964. Scarnati conducted the Marching Band through the 1988-1989 school year and continued teaching at Slippery Rock University until his retirement in May 1996. During his tenure at Slippery Rock, Scarnati also served as musical director for sixteen musicals. He received the President’s Award for Outstanding Service to Slippery Rock University in 1982, and was selected by Phi Beta Mu, the national honorary band fraternity, as the Outstanding Bandmaster in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in May 1988. After presiding as the grand marshal for SRU’s 2002 homecoming, the band rehearsal field was named the “Blase S. Scarnati Marching Band Field” in his honor. In honor of his years enriching the music community and SRU, Scarnati received the first SRU President’s Signature Circle Award in 2005.

Scarnati founded the Musician’s Concert Band (MCB) in 1986 with Michael Formeck. Members of the MCB included Slippery Rock faculty, students, and alumni, as well as professional and semi-professional musicians from Butler and surrounding counties. In 1992 the MCB was approved as a non-profit organization and was co-funded by SRU from its inception until 1998. The MCB continues performing to this day and was directed by Scarnati until 2005.