Finding Aid for Harry Begian Papers, 1926-97 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Title: Harry Begian Papers, 1926-97

ID: 12/9/25

Primary Creator: Begian, Harry (1921-2010)

Extent: 25.5 cubic feet

Arrangement: The collection is arranged into nine series: Series 1, Clinics and Conference Presentations; Series 2, Sound Recordings; Series 3, Correspondence; Series 4, Administrative Records and Research; Series 5, Teaching Notes and Scholarly Papers; Series 6, Music; Series 7, Photographs, Ephemera, and Uniforms; Series 8, Correspondence - Church Functions and Congressional Records, and Series 9, Books. Materials are arranged in alphabetical and chronological order.

Date Acquired: 12/10/1995. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: American Bandmasters Association, Armenian, Band Clinics, Band Concerts, Band Department, Bands, Bands (Music), Brass Bands, Choral Society, Church music, Faculty, Marching bands, Military Bands, Music, School of, National Music Camp (Interlochen, MI)

Formats/Genres: Papers, Sheet music

Languages: English

Consists of correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, concert recordings, program notes, convention materials, research materials, and published articles that document Harry Begian's career as a conductor, teacher, guest speaker, and scholar from 1946-2005. In addition to administrative materials from his University career, this collection contains his personal teaching materials such as class notes, lesson plans, and conducting exercises. This collection also contains two boxes of his personal arrangements for high school and University bands.

Harry Begian (1921-2010), University band conductor, composer, arranger, and pedagogue, has appeared as a guest conductor and speaker for numerous high school, University, and professional concert bands throughout the United States and internationally.  Dr. Begian started his career as a band director during WWII at McKenzie High school in Detroit before he was drafted.  After he finished serving in the war, he went on to become the director of the Cass Technical High School Symphonic Band from 1947-1964, making it one of the finest high school bands in the country.

Dr. Begian was director of bands at Wayne State University, his alma mater, from 1964-1967, and director of bands at Michigan State University from 1967-1970 before his 14 year tenure as director of bands at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1970-1984.  After his retirement from the University of Illinois, he went on to become the director of the Purdue University Symphonic Band from 1985-1987.

In addition to being a professional conductor and composer, Dr. Begian is also widely recognized for his pedagogical techniques, and he has published 17 articles on rehearsal analysis and conducting strategies.  He has also been the subject of two dissertations, as well as numerous interviews published in the Instrumentalist.  Dr. Begian has been the recipient of various awards, including the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence, The Edwin Franko Goldman Award, and the Notre Dame St. Cecelia Award among others.

American Bandmasters Association
Armenian
Band Clinics
Band Concerts
Band Department
Bands
Bands (Music)
Brass Bands
Choral Society
Church music
Faculty
Marching bands
Military Bands
Music, School of
National Music Camp (Interlochen, MI)

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: 9 August 2013: Bandmasters Hall of Fame plaque, 1984; United States Air Force Plaque, undated; and Gold Key from Springfield, Illinois plaque, undated deacessioned.

Other Note: Pages