Harry Begian papers

Record Group

Identifier: UA-17.272

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers consist of materials related to Harry Begian’s career at Michigan State University. These consist of band performance information, clippings, and photographs. The photographs include groups, band formations, and people. Notable people in the photographs are Governor William Milliken, MSU President Clifford Wharton, Jack Breslin, Clarence "Biggie" Munn, Randall J. Spicer, and Harry Begian.

Dates

Creation: 1957 - 1984

Creator

Begian, Harry, 1921- (Donor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Biographical Note

Harry Begian’s early musical training was in the Detroit area where he studied with Leonard Smith and Larry Teal. He earned his undergraduate and Master's degrees from Wayne State University. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Prior to coming to Michigan State University, he was a conductor and teacher at Detroit’s Cass Technical High School for many years and the Director of Bands at Wayne State University for three years. In 1967, Harry Begian arrived at MSU to replace the retiring Leonard Falcone. In 1970, Begian accepted an offer to become the Director of Bands at the University of Illinois at Champagne. He served there until his retirement in 1984. After a year of retirement, he became the conductor of the Purdue University Symphonic Band from 1985–1987. He then went on as a guest-conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and lecturer and as a Consulting Editor to the magazine, The Instrumentalist. In December of 1993, he was awarded the Grainger Medallion in recognition of his contributions for the performance of Percy Grainger’s music. In 1984, he was enshrined in the Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors.