People
Michael Angell
Chief Orbal Officer
Michael Angell (AIN-jull) has lived a life dedicated to the arts. After growing up and completing high school in suburban Chicago, he attended the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in trumpet and composition, going on to complete graduate degrees in composition at the University of Michigan.
He was a faculty member of the Music Department of the University of Alabama at Birmingham from 1994 until 2008, with five years as Associate Chair. At UAB, in addition to teaching composition, theory, ear training, and computer music, he founded and directed the Computer Music Ensemble. After two years as a stay-at-home dad, he co-founded the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, serving on its board and running the Performing Arts program. In June of 2024, approaching his sexagenary, he stepped down from the foundation to his semi-retirement.
He co-founded the new music organization, the Birmingham Art Music Alliance (BAMA) in 1995, serving as its initial president. He also served on the Birmingham Artburst Series, including one year as president. He has also served on the boards of SEAMUS (the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States), and El Sistema USA. Mike is currently on the boards of directors of Equity Arc (formerly NIMAN), BAMA, Apollo’s Fire (Chicago board), and the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago.
Angell’s musical works have been performed throughout the United States, including various recordings and publications. He has also participated as a compositional clinician and adjudicator.
In October of 2024, Mike formed Pistocelli Services with the assistance and encouragement of the eponymous source of its inspiration.
Favorite Movie: Soylent Green
Favorite Sports Team: Chicago Cubs
Favorite Opera: Lulu
Favorite Poem: Ode on a Grecian Urn
Bruce Buttny
Research Associate
Bruce Buttny (BUTT-nee) was born and raised in suburban Chicago, graduating from Oak Park and River Forest High School. He joined the U.S. Army in 1984, serving in airborne and combat arms divisions. Returning to Illinois in 1986, Bruce pursued academic work at the University of Illinois at Chicago, studying history and the liberal arts. During this time, he joined the army reserve special forces based in Arlington Heights. In the 1990s, following up on medic training received in the army, he became an emergency medical technician, (EMT) first in the private sector and then as a member of the Chicago Fire Department. In this role, Bruce aided citizens in need in numerous neighborhoods throughout the city. After several years as a stay-at-home dad, he occupied various positions in Chicago’s food and transportation industries.
Having served on national, state, city, and home locales, Bruce is now excited to be starting out in philanthropy as Research Associate at Pistocelli Services.
Favorite Movie: Nobody’s Fool
Favorite Novel: Dandelion Wine
Favorite Poem: The Love Song of J. Alfred Proofrock
Peter Pistocelli
Advisor At-Large
Peter Pistocelli (piss-toe-CHELL-ee) is a businessman on the east coast. He has been involved with philanthropy quietly and pseudonymously for over forty years. He has served as an advisor to numerous people and entities, both domestically and abroad.
While his livelihood is in business, his passion is the arts, particularly music, theater, and the fine arts. Pete has attended many concerts, plays, and operas, and is a frequent visitor to the world’s great art museums. His favorites are Madrid’s Prado and New York’s Museum of Modern Art. He is a great believer of the magical qualities of experiencing great art and its positive benefits, both to individuals and society as a whole. While Pete has been a life-long resident of the east coast, he is very familiar with Chicago and appreciates its people’s down-to-earth determination and grit, its beautiful parks and Great Lake, and its proud, multifaceted architecture.
Never a stuffed shirt, Pete also enjoys a good laugh. He is a great fan of both Monty Python and the Three Stooges as well as the works Jonathan Swift and Kurt Vonnegut…and is a follower of Dr. Johnson. He goes by “Pete” to his closest friends. That’s “Mr. Pistocelli” to you. 😉
Favorite Movie: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Favorite Newspaper Article: Yes, Virginia
Favorite Play: La Vida es Sueño (Life is a Dream)
Favorite Violinist: Fritz Kreisler