Collection: Victor Zajec papers | Archival Collections

Victor Zajec (1923-2005) has written two books on the history of the American Bandmasters Association: "The Edwin Franko Goldman Memorial Citation: A History," 1998 and Past Presidents of the American Bandmasters Association, 2000. Both books provide biographical sketches of the office holders and honorees. The Zajec Collection contains correspondence and information files on these individuals. The Zajec Papers also include research materials for Victor's book The First Fifty Years: Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic (Homewood, IL: Midwest Clinic, 1996). The Victor Zajec Papers are found in two locations: the American Bandmasters Association Archives and the Midwest Clinic Archives.

Dates

1962-2012
Majority of material found within 1970-1993

Use and Access to Collection

There are no restricted files in this collection.

Duplication and Copyright Information

Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Contact the curator for an appointment: http://www.lib.umd.edu/scpa/contact

Extent

5.50 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Biography

Victor William Zajec (1923-2005), a native of Chicago, first learned music by playing the cornet at Taylor Elementary School. In high school, Zajec played clarinet and saxophone, and took lessons with Richard Brittain at the VanderCook School of Music. He also studied with members of the Chicago Symphony and played in Harold Bachman's University of Chicago Symphonic Band.

Following graduation, Zajec worked briefly for Montgomery Ward before entering the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. He trained in Boca Raton, Florida, where he led to base dance band and went on to overseas duty as a radio bombadier in the Pacific.

After the war, Zajec entered the VanderCook School of Music (B.M.E., 1950) and began teaching in Charleston, Mississippi, in 1948. In addition to teaching the concert band and marching band, Zajec worked as a church music director and taught private violin. Six years later, He accepted a position as band director in Philadelphia, Mississippi, where he remained until 1963. During this time, Zajec was selected to lead the Mississippi Lions' All-State Band at their International Conventions and also directed the Hamasa Temple Shrine Band in Meridian, MS.

In 1963, H.E. Nutt, President of VanderCook College, invited Zajec to joint the faculty of his Alma Mater. He finished his master's degree there the following year, and spent the next twenty-five years teaching a wide variety of music classes, ensembles, and lessons. Zajec also became the Dean of the Graduate School and retired in 1988.

Following his retirement from VanderCook, Zajec continued guest conducting and adjudicating throughout the country, remaining active in a number of professional organizations. He was named to Midwest Clinic [official website] Board of Directors in 1983 and elected to the American Bandmasters Assocation that same year. Zajec authored books about the history of each of these organizations, including The First Fifty Years, a history of the Midwest Clinic (1946-1996), and Past Presidents of the American Bandmasters Assocation (1998).

Arrangement

The Victor Zajec papers are found in two locations: the American Bandmasters Association Archives and the Midwest Clinic Archives. Currently, they are not divided into series.

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

Several gifts of Victor Zajec beginning 17 February 1997.

Related Material

Vic Zajec Collection. H.E. Nutt Archives. Ruppell Library, VanderCook College of Music.

Topics

Administrative Information

Title: Victor Zajec papers
Status: Abstract
Author: Prepared by Bradley Mariska, April 2004.
Date: 2004-01-01
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: English
Script of description: Code for undetermined script
Language of description note: Finding aid written in English

Library Details

Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library

http://www.lib.umd.edu/mspal

Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
8270 Alumni Drive
College Park MD 20742 United States
scpa@umd.edu

Victor Zajec papers

Dates

Use and Access to Collection

Duplication and Copyright Information

Extent

Additional Description

Biography

Arrangement

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

Related Material

Topics

Administrative Information

Library Details

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