Finding Aid for Robert Gray Papers, Music and Instruments, 1910-2006 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Title: Robert Gray Papers, Music and Instruments, 1910-2006

ID: 12/5/40

Primary Creator: Gray, Robert (1926-2008)

Extent: 9.0 cubic feet

Arrangement: The collection is organized in three series: Series 1, Personal Papers, 1940-2006; Series 2, Music, 1929-1998; and Series 3, Historical Trombones, ca. 1910-1992. Material within each series is arranged alphabetically.

Date Acquired: 05/10/2007

Subjects: Bands, Brass Instruments, Church music, Concert tours, Faculty, Illinois Summer Youth Music, Music, Music, School of, Musical Instrument Makers - United States, Photographs

Formats/Genres: Music instruction, Papers, Sheet music, Sound Recordings

Languages: English

Consists of papers, photographs, music, correspondence, teaching notes, research, and music instruments documenting Robert Gray's professional music career as a trombone professor, performer, and church music director between 1940 and 2006. Of particular interest are the papers documenting the University Wind Ensemble's 1977 tour of South America and Gray's prototype F attachment that was an attempt to modify the Conn's 8H bass trombone design but was never put into production by the manufacturer.

Robert E. Gray (1926-2008) was born in Ambridge, PA on June 13, 1926 the son of William and Helen Lowary Gray. Gray graduated from Ambridge High School near Pittsburgh, PA. In 1949, he graduated with a bacheolors in music education from Muskingum College (New Concord, Ohio). While a student, Gray was a member of Phi Beta Mu. He received his Masters degree in trombone performance from the Eastman School of Music. During the Korean War, Gray served as a Musician First Class in the US Navy. In 1957, he was the first trombonist to earn a DMA at the Eastman School of Music, writing a dissertation entitled "The Treatment of Trombone in Contemporary Chamber Literature."  Following this, he taught at Duke University, the University of Arizona, and East Carolina University.

Dr. Gray joined the University of Illinois faculty in 1955, and served as professor of trombone and low brass, and director of several student wind and brass ensembles. He was also a member of the Illinois Brass Quintet, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, and the Sinfonia da Camera. Gray led the wind ensemble during its 1977 tour of South America. He was one of the charter members of the Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1984. In 1986 he was presented with an outstanding bandmaster award from that same organization. During his time in the brass area, Gray performed alongside faculty members like Michael Ewald, Ray Sasaki, and Mark Moore. Gray retired in 1991 after serving 36 years on the UIUC faculty.

In addition to his teaching and performance responsibilities a the University Gray served on the board of advisors for the International Trombone Association and was its president from 1984 to 1986. For most of his tenure at the University of Illinois he also taught trombone for the Illinois Summer Youth Music Camp (ISYM). In addition to his teaching and research he served as the music director at Champaign, Illinois' First Presbyterian Church and concertized with his wife, organist Joan Gray, throughout his career. Robert Gray died in 2008 in Urbana, IL.

Bands
Brass Instruments
Church music
Concert tours
Faculty
Illinois Summer Youth Music
Music
Music, School of
Musical Instrument Makers - United States
Photographs

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: Robert Gray

Acquisition Method: Gift