Professor Emeritus H. Robert Reynolds recently authored a new book, In Pursuit of Great Conducting, in collaboration with music education PhD student Doris Doyon.
Reynolds served as the director of bands and chair of the conducting department from 1975–2001. Also an alumnus of the program, during his tenure as director of bands Reynolds (BM ’56, music education; MM ’58, wind instruments) propelled the program forward, continually raising standards and broadening the program’s mission. After leaving U-M, he continued his career at the University of Southern California, where he spent nearly two decades conducting the USC Wind Ensemble. Known for his interpretive skills and his devotion to music education, Reynolds has attained great renown at U-M and well beyond.
Doyon, a Rackham Merit Fellow and graduate student instructor, has led ensembles at K-12 and college levels for over twenty years, serving as assistant and interim director of the Michigan Youth Band and as conductor for the U-M Alumni Concert Band. Doyon holds a DMA in wind conducting from UCLA, an MA in conducting and percussion performance from Truman State University, and bachelor’s degrees in music education and performance from Pacific Lutheran University. Her primary conducting teachers include Raydell Bradley, Travis Cross, Michael Haithcock, and Dan Peterson.
H. Robert Reynolds (left) and Doris Doyon
Haithcock, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor Emeritus of Music, has written the foreword to In Pursuit of Great Conducting. He succeeded Reynolds as director of bands in 2001 and retired from the School of Music, Theatre & Dance in 2023.
The publisher’s overview of In Pursuit of Great Conducting states:
Renowned wind band conductor H. Robert Reynolds has pondered an important question throughout his illustrious career: What is the difference between a good conductor and a great conductor? This volume addresses the subject head-on, with wisdom from Reynolds’ own experience and reflections shared by twenty professional musicians of the highest caliber.
Part I chronicles the remarkable career of H. Robert Reynolds, who conducted the Michigan Symphony Band from 1975 to 2001 and then the University of Southern California Wind Ensemble for the next two decades.
Reynolds shares captivating stories and invaluable lessons from his influential seventy-year career in teaching and conducting, complemented by more than a dozen photographs from his life, including moments with family, friends, and other notable musicians.
In Part II, twenty professional musicians, many former students of Reynolds, offer profound insights into the characteristics that set great conductors apart. Their observations – drawn from playing for some of the world’s most celebrated conductors – illuminate the path to greatness.
This inspiring volume is a testament to the transformative power of musical leadership and an essential guide for conductors at any stage of their musical journey.
In Pursuit of Great Conducting has been published by GIA Publications and is now available in softcover.