Acton Ostling, Jr. papers
Collection
0324-SCPA
Acton E. Ostling, Jr. (b. 30 June 1936), is an Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Louisville. From 1974 until 1995, he served as Director of Bands and the conductor of the Louisville Symphony Band, retiring from the institution in 2001. While at Louisville, he also taught undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting, as well as courses in theory, orchestration, and wind band repertoire. Earlier academic appointments included serving as Director of Bands at Iowa State University (1968-1972), and at the University of Maryland as Assistant Director of Bands (1962-1965) and then as Director of Bands (1965-1968). His career started in 1959 as director of the band and orchestra at Conard High School, West Hartford, Connecticut.
This collection chronicles the entirity of his career, beginning with his first appointment as band director of Conard High School and moving through his most recent position as Professor at the University of Louisville. The documents chronicle Ostling's innovations in choreography, his significant administrative responsibilities, and his teaching pedagogy. It includes a significant collection of scores in addition to notes and correspondence. The Goldman Band programs document nearly every Central Park concert from 1946 until 1969.
Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please make an appointment with the curator: 301.405.9220 or scpa@umd.edu.
36 Linear Feet (24 record storage boxes)
Twenty-four boxes of papers, recordings, publications, and photographs pertaining to Dr. Ostling's long career as a band director, conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and musician, including his tenures at Louisville University and Iowa State University.
Acton E. Ostling, Jr. (b. 30 June 1936), is an Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Louisville. From 1974 until 1995, he served as Director of Bands and the conductor of the Louisville Symphony Band, retiring from the institution in 2001. While at Louisville, he also taught undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting, as well as courses in theory, orchestration, and wind band repertoire. Earlier academic appointments included serving as Director of Bands at Iowa State University (1968-1972), and at the University of Maryland as Assistant Director of Bands (1962-1965) and then as Director of Bands (1965-1968). His career started in 1959 as director of the band and orchestra at Conard High School, West Hartford, Connecticut.
Ostling earned a Bachelor of Music in music education (1958) and a Master of Music in wind instruments (1959), both from the University of Michigan. He earned a Ph.D. (1978) at the University of Iowa, with a dissertation studying wind band literature according to specific criteria of artistic merit. Elected into ABA in 1967, he is still an active member of the organization. He served on the editorial review board for the "Journal of Band Research," and also served as the journal's Acting Editor. Ostling was President of the Maryland Band Directors Association (a branch of the Maryland Music Educators Association), and served for eight years as Secretary-Treasurer of the College Band Directors National Association.
Ostling was married to Janet in 1959, and they had two children together, Eric and Kristin. His father, Acton Ostling (1906-1993), was also a music educator and band professional.
Many of the the donated boxes reflect Acton E. Ostling, Jr.'s detailed and methodical system of organization. To the extent possible, this system has been maintained. In some instances, this results in more sub-series than in comparable collections.
Acton E. Ostling, Jr. donated this material on July 6, 2017.
Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library