Maurice McAdow


Maurice Clark McAdow was an American conductor, trumpeter, and music educator who served as director of bands at the University of North Texas College of Music for years, from fall 1945 to spring 1975. The concert bands under his direction were acclaimed for performing a wide repertoire that exhibited advanced levels of musicianship commensurate with a major music school. The marching bands under his direction were known for innovative and colorful halftime shows. Since the mid-1940s, the College of Music had been, and still is, among the nation's largest music schools. Due to the size of the music school, his marching bands were filled with an unusual number of music majors, sometimes exceeding 90%.

Career & education

Secondary education
Founder of bands
'''Educator at the university level'''

Formal music education

In the mid-1920s, McAdow studied with:
Beginning in 1930 he spent eight years of intensive study of the woodwinds, trombone, and percussion with symphony artists. During this time, he played flute with the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra. He studied with:
McAdow received a bachelor's degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1939, was a conducting pupil of Ralph Lyford, Alfred Hicks, and, from 1943 to 1944, Russian conductor Nicolai Malko. McAdow received a master's degree from the American Conservatory of Music in 1953.

Awards

Selected discography

Symphony for Band, Silver Crest CBD 69-2
  1. Holst: Jupiter from The Planets
  2. Ginastera: Danza Final from Estancia
  3. Kepner: The Sea from Cuban Fantasy
  4. Shostakovich: Festive Overture
  5. Wagner: Flying Dutchman Overture

Family

McAdow's father, William Paisley McAdow Jr., was a professional trumpet player, composer, and band director. His son, Scott, is a secondary school music educator in Texas.