User:Baucums/Harry Begian

Dr. Harry Begian was an American Band Director. Dr. Begian taught at both the secondary and collegiate level during his career. At the secondary level, Dr. Begian served as band director at Detroit’s Cass Technical High School from 1947 through 1964. During Dr. Begian’s tenure at Cass Tech, the band was invited to perform at the prestigous Mid-West Band Clinic in 1954. Following Dr. Begian’s tenure at Cass Tech, he earned a Doctorate from the University of Michigan, and started his college teaching career. After serving three years as Director of Bands at Wayne State University and three years as Director of Bands at Michigan State University, Dr. Begian began his fourteen-year tenure as only the third person to hold the position Director of Bands at the University of Illinois in 1970. Dr. Begian retired from the University of Illinois in 1984. During Dr. Begian's tenure at the University of Illinois, he continued the LP recording project established by his predecessor, Mark Hindsley. After his retirement from the University of Illinois, many of the recording of the Symphonic Band under Dr. Begian's baton were re-distributed as a set of 20 CDs. Dr. Begian was especially know for his recordings of the works by Percy Grainger, as well as his interpretation of the tone poems of Richard Stauss. Dr. Begin was born in Michigan of Armenian immigrants in 1921. The influence of his Armenian heritage was the motivating factor in his asking Alfred Reed to compose his work for band entitled "Armenian Dances" parts 1 and 2. Dr. Begin was a frequent contributor to such band publications as "The Instrumentalist". Dr.Begin passed away July 26, 2010 at the age of 89.

Sources: Obituary from news-gazette: http://www.news-gazette.com/news/people/2010-07-28/life-remembered-former-ui-band-director-harry-begian.html obituary from Mid West Band Clinic: http://www.midwestclinic.org/begian/