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Albert Austin Harding (February 10, 1880 – December 3, 1958) was the first Director Of Bands at the University of Illinois. He was also the first band director at an American university to hold a position of full professorship. The Harding Band Building, the first ever dedicated building for a University Band Department, was named for him. ==Early life== Albert Austin Harding was born on February 10, 1880 in Georgetown, Illinois. His parents were Conway A. and Jennie Stewart Harding. Unfortunately, Jennie died shortly after his birth, and so Conway moved Albert to Paris, Illinois to live with his grandparents. He lived with them until the age of 10.〔(Sousa Archives and Center for American Music. ''A. Austin Harding Papers, 1895-1958'' )〕 Albert bought his first Jaubert cornet for only nine or ten dollars from France. This type of cornet was probably the cheapest type of Cornet at that time and was nicknamed "Jawbreakers". However, Albert saw beauty in this instrument; he quickly mastered it and moved on to the fife. By the age of 16, he had moved on to the piccolo.〔 Albert began his musical career as the bugler for the Boys Brigade in Paris. Since Paris High School did not yet have a band, he went on to become a bugler for the Paris High School Cadets. Also, he and some of his school mates formed a band called the "Bum Notes Band". Each member of the band played an instrument that they were not very familiar with. Albert chose the baritone.〔 Albert then joined and eventually led the Paris Beacon Drum and Bugle Corps, named after the Paris, Illinois newspaper the Paris Beacon. In this corps, Albert played the fife and the bugle. The corps even played at a political campaign for president William McKinley in Canton, Ohio.〔 At the age of 17, Albert joined the Paris Concert Band. Before graduating high school, he became the leader of the band, and later he succeeded W. D. Wooley as the band director. Meanwhile, his independent musician career was thriving; he was invited to many music groups including marching bands, dance bands, and orchestras.〔 After high school, Albert joined the Illinois National Guard, where he spent most of his time as a company bugler, battalion bugler, and regimental bugler. For the most part, he was stationed at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Albert Austin Harding」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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