DVORAK, RAYMOND FRANCIS (1900-1982)

Raymond Francis Dvorak (1900-1982) was Director of Bands at The University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1934-1968. He was a member of many associations and fraternities and also received numerous honors. Included in these are American Bandmasters Association (president 1948 and inducted into ABA Hall of Fame after retirement), College Band Directors National Association (President in 1948), Member of The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic Board of Directors 1947-1982 (received Medal of Honor in 1970), ASCAP, Named Wisconsin Handicapped Man of the Year in 1955, Received John Philip Sousa Band Award from The Instrumentalist Magazine in 1977 and Distinguished Service Award from Wisconsin Music Educators Conference in 1974. He authored two books: The Band on Parade (1936) and The Art of Flag Swinging (1938). In 1956 he made a film Marching Along With Sousa.

 

After his retirement from The University of Wisconsin, he lobbied the electors of The Hall of Fame for Great

Americans (housed at New York University) on behalf of the ABA to elect John Philip Sousa to the Hall. Sousa was only the third musician in the Hall of Fame along with Stephen Foster and George Gershwin. Ray was honored to conduct The United States Marine Band at the enshrinement ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

 

Also in his retirement, he went around the country interviewing all the remaining members of the Sousa Band about their recollection of performance practices in Sousa’s marches. Using that information, his memory of hearing the Sousa Band and conversations he had with Mr. Sousa where they were roommates on the staff at Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, he arranged 12 Sousa Marches in Sousa style.

 

 

 

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