Harry Begian (1921-2010) was a University band conductor, composer, arranger, and pedagogue, appearing as a guest conductor and speaker for numerous high school, University, and professional concert bands throughout the United States and internationally. He was born on April 24, 1921 in Pontiac, Michigan. The son of Armenian refugees Nishan and Osgi Begian, he was originally named Droy Harouthiun Begian, only later did he go by his anglicized name, Harry Begian. Begian grew up immersed in Armenian culture, serving as an alter boy within the Armenian church and learning Armenian folk songs. In the fourth grade he played E-flat alto horn in his school's band. He graduated from Fordson High School, near Dearborn, Michigan in 1939. At this time, he studied cornet with Leonard Smith and frequently attended open rehearsals of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. As a high schooler, he also falsified his age in order to perform with the 182nd Field Artillery Band in Detroit. Begian earned a bachelors degree in music at Wayne State University in 1941.
Dr. Begian started his career as a band director the following year at McKenzie High school in Detroit. Two years after accepting the position, he was drafted into the Army. He was stationed at Fort Brown in Texas, where he served as a cornettist in the 124th Cavalry Regimental Band. In 1946 he was discharged as a Technical Sergeant. In that year he was accepted as a student conductor at Tanglewood, where he studied under Serge Koussevitzky, Leonard Bernstein, Robert Shaw, and Eleazar Carvalho. In 1947, he became the director of the Cass Technical High School Symphonic Band, a position he held until 1964. Under his baton, the band became one of the finest high school bands in the country.
In 1956, Begian enrolled in the Education Department's doctoral program at the University of Michigan at the behest of William D. Revelli, who wanted to start a band conducting program there. Begian wrote his dissertation on the Armenian priest and musicologist Gomidas Vartabed in 1964. Following the successful completion of his doctorate, Dr. Begian became director of bands at Wayne State University, his alma mater. He served in this role from 1964 to 1967. Following this, he became the director of bands at Michigan State University from 1967 to 1970. Eventually, Begian would secure the position of director of bands at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which he held from 1970 to 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 was 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.
Begian died in his home in Alpena, Michigan on July 26, 2010.
Sources:Carroll Lewis Wallace, "The Life and Work of Harry Begian," DMA Dissertation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1994.
Paul Wood, "Life Remembered: Former UI Band Director Harry Begian," The News Gazette (Champaign, IL), July 28, 2010.
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