Tweet
HARRY BEGIAN: SCHOOL CONCERT LED HIM TO DIRECT BANDS
CECIL ANGEL
Detroit Free Press
http://www.freep.com/article/20100727/NEWS08/7270307/Harry-Begian-School-concert-led-him-to-direct-bands
July 27 2010
Harry Begian had a long history of directing bands and orchestras:
at Wayne State and Michigan State universities, the University of
Illinois and at Detroit's Cass Technical High School.
He could trace his love for conducting to a single experience. While
in junior high school, he attended a Detroit Symphony Orchestra
children's concert at Orchestra Hall.
"My eyes and ears nearly popped out," Begian said to the Free Press
in 1987. "I was so taken by that one concert that I knew right then
what I wanted to be doing with my life."
Mr. Begian died Monday of pneumonia at Turning Brook, an
assisted-living community in Alpena. He was 89.
"He was such a vital, passionate man about music," said his daughter,
Carol Begian McGuire.
Born in Pontiac to Neshan Begian, an Armenian refugee who was an
autoworker, and Osge Assarian Begian, a homemaker, Mr. Begian graduated
in 1939 from Fordson High School in Dearborn, where he grew up.
He met his wife, Emily Gibbs Begian, while both were students at WSU
and the couple married in 1943. It was the same year that Mr. Begian
graduated from WSU with a bachelor's degree in music education and
he was drafted into the Army, serving until 1946.
He received a master's degree in music education from WSU and in
1964 received a doctorate in music education from the University
of Michigan.
Mr. Begian was a former president of the American Band Masters
Association, and a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
He formerly taught at Interlochen and Blue Lake Fine Arts Music Camp
and was a guest conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
He was an honorary member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra
Association.
Other survivors are another daughter, MaryAnn Begian Hubbard; a son,
Daniel Begian; a brother, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Thursday at the Bannan Funeral Home,
222 S. Second Ave., Alpena.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Burial will be later in Spruce, south of Alpena
From: A. Papazian
CECIL ANGEL
Detroit Free Press
http://www.freep.com/article/20100727/NEWS08/7270307/Harry-Begian-School-concert-led-him-to-direct-bands
July 27 2010
Harry Begian had a long history of directing bands and orchestras:
at Wayne State and Michigan State universities, the University of
Illinois and at Detroit's Cass Technical High School.
He could trace his love for conducting to a single experience. While
in junior high school, he attended a Detroit Symphony Orchestra
children's concert at Orchestra Hall.
"My eyes and ears nearly popped out," Begian said to the Free Press
in 1987. "I was so taken by that one concert that I knew right then
what I wanted to be doing with my life."
Mr. Begian died Monday of pneumonia at Turning Brook, an
assisted-living community in Alpena. He was 89.
"He was such a vital, passionate man about music," said his daughter,
Carol Begian McGuire.
Born in Pontiac to Neshan Begian, an Armenian refugee who was an
autoworker, and Osge Assarian Begian, a homemaker, Mr. Begian graduated
in 1939 from Fordson High School in Dearborn, where he grew up.
He met his wife, Emily Gibbs Begian, while both were students at WSU
and the couple married in 1943. It was the same year that Mr. Begian
graduated from WSU with a bachelor's degree in music education and
he was drafted into the Army, serving until 1946.
He received a master's degree in music education from WSU and in
1964 received a doctorate in music education from the University
of Michigan.
Mr. Begian was a former president of the American Band Masters
Association, and a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
He formerly taught at Interlochen and Blue Lake Fine Arts Music Camp
and was a guest conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
He was an honorary member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra
Association.
Other survivors are another daughter, MaryAnn Begian Hubbard; a son,
Daniel Begian; a brother, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Thursday at the Bannan Funeral Home,
222 S. Second Ave., Alpena.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Burial will be later in Spruce, south of Alpena
From: A. Papazian