Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Music Glenn Allen Muegel (February 21, 1934-) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the eldest son of Mildred Gibson (1901-1997) and George Muegel (1898-1964). His two brothers are James Oliver and George Edward. Muegel graduated from Greenhills High School (Ohio) in 1952. He earned his B.S. degree from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1956 and also received a certificate in violin performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Muegel completed his M.M. degree in violin performance at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 1962 and his D.M.A. degree at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles) in 1970. He had postdoctoral violin instruction at the Aspen Music Festival (Colorado) in 1973 and violin and viola instruction from string faculty members at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, in 1985 and 1986. Muegel married the former Trudy Ann Drummond (March 28, 1936-) on June 20, 1959, in Rockford, Illinois. Mrs. Meugel is the only child of Helen Schade and Evan Merrill "Boots" Drummond. The Muegels have three daughters: Linda Ann (February 26,1965-), who earned her D.V.M. degree from Ohio State University; Lisa Gail (May 15, 1966-) who has a B.A. degree from Ohio Northern University; and Laura Kim (August 17, 1968-), who earned her B.A. degree from Wofford College (South Carolina). Lisa is married to Richard Hammond, and the couple has one daughter, Lindsay Elyse (May 21, 1999-). Laura is married to Jonathan Sippel, and they have twin sons; Evan Alexander and Daniel Martin (July 17, 2002-). Linda and Lisa, along with their families, live in the greater Charlotte (North Carolina) area, and Laura lives in the greater Dallas (Texas) area. Muegel began his professional career as a member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's violin section from 1955 to 1957 and from 1960 to 1963. During the interim years, from 1957 to 1960, he served as a musician in the United States Military Academy Band in West Point, New York. His academic career began in 1963 at Minot State College (North Dakota), where he taught string education for the campus elementary school and high school orchestras and at the college level. During 1966-67, Muegel fulfilled his residency requirement for a doctoral degree at the University of Southern California. From 1967 to 1977, he taught string education at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. From 1977 to 1979, Muegel was the string instructor at California State College, Stanislaus in Turlock, California. From 1979 to 1983, he taught string education at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. In 1983, he accepted an appointment at Appalachian State University in the Hayes School of Music where he taught until his retirement in 1999. In addition to his academic positions, Dr. Muegel has maintained his orchestral performing as a principal or assistant principal violinist in the following orchestras: Minot Symphony (North Dakota), Cincinnati Community Orchestra, Modesto Symphony (California), Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus (Ohio), and the Western Piedmont Symphony of Hickory (North Carolina). He continues as a contracted violinist and violist in the Kingsport Symphony Orchestra (Tennessee), now known as "The Symphony of the Mountains," and has recently retired, after twenty years, as a first violinist for the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (Virginia). In addition to the cited orchestras, Muegel has conducted community college orchestras and university orchestras in each of his academic positions. Dr. Muegels rank at Appalachian State progressed from instructor in 1983 to full professor in 1994. He was appointed string area coordinator in 1992. As such, he was responsible for recruiting string students on and off campus and for administering to the needs and requirements of the string area. He taught courses in string education from basic instruction for non-string majors to methods for string majors. Dr. Muegel also supervised string-education student teachers. His string studio included violin and viola students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. During his years at Appalachian State University, Muegel served on various university committees, including the Cultural Arts Committee; the Faculty and Development Committee of the Hubbard Center; and most recently, the University Calendar Committee in addition to the Hayes School of Music Coordinators Advisory Council, Applied Music Committee, and the Music Education Committee. Dr. Muegel also has been a member of the Appalachian Graduate Faculty. He is a life member of the American String Teachers Association and has also been involved with the National School Orchestra Association and Music Educators National Conference. He has become a life member of local 1, after 50 years of membership. Professor Muegel has had articles dealing with string education published in various state and national journals. In addition to his published dissertation (1970), "Three Concertos by Wenzel Pichl (1741-1805) with Solo Edition and Piano Reduction for Student Performers," he co-authored a book with Dr. Robert Cowden entitled Bowing for Better Sound (1971). Most recently Muegel was the editor and author of many articles for the North Carolina Music Educator String Forum. Dr. Muegel has been part of the Hayes School of Music recital series each year since joining the music faculty. He owns several fine stringed instruments, including his Giuseppi Guadagnini violin dated 1782. Dr. Muegel and his wife are also brass players (French horn and euphonium) and enjoy performing with the Watauga County Band. After thirty-five years of academic teaching and eight years of full-time performance as a violinist, Muegel announced his resignation, effective June 1, 1999, from Appalachian State, and this was finalized on July 1, 1999. Dr. Muegel's avocational interests include a gourmet palate, travel in and out of the contiguous United States, chamber music performance, golf, and a continuation of orchestral performing. Mrs. Muegel is a professional musician (percussionist) who has performed in the same ensembles as Dr. Muegel, and she plans to continue her musical experience along with her husband. She holds a B.M. degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, a B.S. degree in music education from the University of Cincinnati, and an M.S. degree in percussion performance from the Juilliard School of Music (New York). Mrs. Muegel also retired from Appalachian State, where she was executive assistant for university recreation; she enjoys gourmet cooking, travel, chamber music, golf, orchestral performing, photography, and knitting. The greater part of the year, the Muegels' live in Watauga County, east of Boone. During the winter months, they reside near Charleston, South Carolina. Sources: Personal correspondence. -Dr. Richard D. Howe
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