HAUGLAND, OSCAR A. (1922-1991)

A. Oscar Haugland, son of Norwegian immigrants, was born on a farm in southern Minnesota on January 28, 1922. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Drake University in 1943. During three years of military service, he spent time in an army band in Aberdeen, Maryland, two and one half years as a French hornist and pianist, and one as a conductor. Upon discharge in 1946, he entered Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, where he received Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music composition and theory. In 1949, he joined the faculty of West Virginia University as a professor of French horn, music theory and composition. In 1956, he was awarded a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition, with a Performer's Certificate in French horn, for which he played his own composition with the Eastman Rochester Orchestra, under the direction of Howard Hanson. He then returned to West Virginia University as the head of the theory and composition department.

In 1960, he joined the School of Music at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, and retired from that position in 1992 as professor emeritus of theory and composition and as Coordinator of Graduate Studies. He also played French horn for many years in the DeKalb Municipal Band. Dr. Haugland's composition teachers included Howard Hanson, Bernard Rogers, Herbert Elwell and Robert Delaney. His works cover a variety of media, including symphonic, chamber, choral, musicals, and solos, many of which are published. A variety of his compositions have been performed throughout the United States, as well as around the world, including performances in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan. While on sabbatical in 1974-75, he lectured extensively throughout Scandinavia and England on the life and music of the American composer, Charles Ives.