Mark Hindsley (1906-99)	Nov 11 99

Mark Hindsley, accomplished music educator, conductor, and longtime director of University of Illinois Bands and Marching Illini, died in October 1999 at the age of 93. Hindsley was born on an Indiana farm to a musical family. He graduated from high school at age 15, performing as a cornet soloist at his church, school, and in the community. He enrolled at Indiana University (IU) with a scholarship in chemistry and was assigned to play first chair cornet in the university band. He graduated at age 19 with high distinction as a Phi Beta Kappa and was a nominee for a Rhodes Scholarship. At IU, he began his 45-year career as a band director, first with a part-time appointment while in graduate school and then as full-time director of concert and marching bands. He gained national attention for his innovative and intricate formations on the football field. Hindsley studied trumpet with Leslie Peck in Indianapolis and conducting with Victor Gabriel in Chicago. He developed new wind instrument intonations that led to changes in the manufacture of several instruments in the U.S., France, and England. In 1934, A.A. Harding, Director of Bands at the University of Illinois, invited Hindsley to become director of the Marching Illini, and some of his traditional Illinois routines are still used today. He also taught wind instruments in the School of Music and conducted the First Regimental Band. In 1948, he succeeded Harding as director of bands at the U of I and was named professor of music. After his retirement from the U of I in 1970, Hindsley continued to serve as a guest conductor, adjudicator, clinician, and arranger. He was awarded an honorary doctor of music degree by IU, inducted into the National Hall of Fame for Distinguished Band Conductors, and named a fellow in the International Institute of Arts and Letters. He received the highest awards of the American School Band Directors Association and the National Band Association, a Meritorious Service Award from the Illinois Music Educators Association, a Certificate of Merit from the UI Foundation, and the Sudler Medal of the Order of Merit from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. A memorial service was held on October 6, 1999, in Urbana. He is survived by his wife, Helena, two sons, Harold E. Hindsley and Robert W. Hindsley, a daughter, Marilyn Hindsley Haynie, eight grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be made to the University of Illinois Foundation Mark Hindsley Band Scholarship Fund or the Indiana University Foundation Mark Hindsley Endowment Fund for Symphonic Band. Source: National Band Association

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