Best of Philly

2024 Baton Maker

Mark Horowitz

The next time you need a custom conducting baton, turn to this retired actuary and actuarial software developer. The Ambler resident (whose father was the late, world-renowned baton maker Richard Horowitz) crafted replicas of Leonard Bernstein’s originals for Bradley Cooper’s Maestro. He designed a beauty bearing a rosewood handle for the Curtis Institute of Music’s Benoit Gauthier, and has created wands for the Philadelphia Orchestra’s principal guest conductor Nathalie Stutzmann and Riccardo Chailly of La Scala. Horowitz makes only about 25 batons per year: After all, he is retired. He’s doing this for fun — which is music to our ears. Horowitzbatons@gmail.com