A seasoned conductor agreed to conduct the Wheaton Municipal Band when he turned 100. He just kept his word.

Arnald Gabriel continued to conduct after he retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1985. Courtesy of U.S. Air Force

When Arnald Gabriel was conducting concerts regularly more than two decades ago, his colleague told him, half-jokingly, “Gabe, I think you will still be conducting when you’re 100.”

Gabriel replied, “I plan to.”

Bruce Moss, Gabriel’s colleague, sent Gabriel a contract that bound him to conduct Moss’ municipal band in Wheaton in 2025. Gabriel happily signed it.

Gabriel turned 100 years old in May, but because he now struggles to walk, he couldn’t fly to Illinois. Moss found another way for Gabriel to keep his word.

Moss sent a film crew to record Gabriel conducting two songs in his Alexandria, Virginia, condominium, last month. During the concert a week later, his wrinkled