ALAN H. DRAKE – 1929-2015
Dr. Alan H. Drake, Professor of Music Emeritus, Augusta State University died on August 19, 2015 four days after his 86th birthday. Dr. Drake served as chairman of the music department of Augusta College/Augusta State University from 1982 - 1996.
Dr. Drake’s illustrious music career spanned 45 years and six different educational institutions. He received his Bachelor’s of Arts degree from the University of Miami in 1951, Master of Music Education from Florida State University in 1957 and Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education in 1965 also from Florida State University.
He began his teaching career as Director of Bands in Belle Glade, Florida in 1951 before he was recruited in 1953 to become Director of Bands at Pompano Beach Senior High School. Drake quickly built one of the top band programs in the state of Florida. He began his college career as Assistant Director of Bands at Purdue University in 1964. Desiring to enter administration, he accepted the position of Director of Bands and Chairman of the Music Department at the University of Southern Mississippi where he also developed an extremely successful summer music camp program for middle and high school students. The University of Southern Mississippi Band was also invited to perform at the National College Band Directors Association convention in 1968 and the Southern Music Educators National Conference convention in 1969.
Dr. Drake had a special talent for developing music programs so he turned his attention to Ohio Northern University, a small liberal arts school in need of his abilities. As director of bands and chairman if the music department, he recruited top musicians to attend ONU and fought hard to create a Bachelor of Music degree and full accreditation for the department. He also started a summer music camp for middle and high school students that became the largest of its kind in the Midwest. Dr. Drake came to Augusta College in the summer of 1982 as Chairman of Fine Arts and Director of Bands.
In addition to Dr. Drake’s conducting successes, he remained a world-class clarinetist performing with the Ft. Lauderdale Symphony and the Augusta Symphony as well as an active recitalist. He was also deeply involved in the Augusta arts community. In 1992, he resurrected the Augusta Concert Band and served as the conductor until 2002. From 1992 – 2009 he served in various capacities with the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society: on the Board of Directors, as Vice President, President and Artistic Director.
Dr. Drake is survived by his wife of 53 years, Evalyn, his son Bruce and daughter Christina. Four grandchildren and four great grandchildren also survive him.
A memorial service will be held at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 402 Aumond Rd at 1:00pm on Tuesday, August 25th. The family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made to either the Symphony Orchestra of Augusta http://soaugusta.org/ or the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society http://www.hjcms.org/ in lieu of flowers.