Donald Haddad
Donald Haddad, 83, of Marietta passed away at his home Friday, May 19, 2017. He was born on January 11, 1935, in Marietta to the late Isaac “Ike” Haddad and the late Louise Bacela Haddad.
Don was a graduate of Marietta High School, Class of 1952. He was an internationally noted composer and accomplished horn player. He completed his undergraduate degree at Ohio University and earned graduate degrees at the University of Colorado and the University of Texas. Additional study was taken at the Aspen Festival of Music and Chautauqua Institute of Music. Horn teachers included Philip Farkas, James Chambers of the New York Philharmonic, Myron Bloom of the Chicago Symphony, and Forrest Standley of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Haddad began his teaching career as a graduate assistant in theory at Ohio University. His first full-time position was at West Texas State University, where he also played principal horn in the AmariHo Symphony. His composing and his work in the AS impressed its conductor, Clyde Roller, and Haddad was brought to the attention of the Interlochen Arts Academy and invited to teach there.
Haddad thoroughly enjoyed teaching at Interlochen, where he gave lessons to horn students who later held positions in major orchestras. While teaching at Interlochen, he also performed in a woodwind quintet staffed by other professional performers who were also teaching there. They toured nationally and on one occasion performed on the NBC Today show, playing a work written by Haddad.
As a performer, Haddad soloed with the Amarillo Symphony, Denver Little Symphony, Eastman Wind ensemble and the Scandinavian Symphony. He also served as a C. G. Conn soloist and clinician.
A published composer, he studied with Ernst von Dohnonyi, who had been a student of Johannes Brahms. Haddad wrote for every possible ensemble including band, orchestra, choir, chamber groups and others. While he wrote a considerable amount of music and materials for educational use, he preferred composing solos and music for band and ensembles. According to performance records from ASCAP, his music, which was published by four major publishers, is performed frequently around the world.
After teaching at WTSU, Haddad went to the University of Kentucky. While there he became an Adventist. Though he was slated to receive tenure, he found that weekend performance expectations and Sabbath observance could not be reconciled and eventually left. He served briefly as chair of the music program at Southwestern Adventist University.
Don is survived by 3 sons: Robert Lupton, Ronald Lupton and Richard Haddad, his brother Arthur (Gail) Haddad of Troy, Ohio, and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, May 23, at 10:30am at East Lawn Memorial Park with Pastor Lou Verdi officiating. McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home is assisting the family and messages of sympathy may be sent at www.Lankfordfh.com.