Himie Voxman
Encyclopedia
Himie Voxman was an American
musician, music pedagogue and administrator at the university level, and composer who produced volumes of compositions and pedagogical literature for wind instruments.
, Voxman studied at the University of Iowa
, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1933 in chemical engineering and a master's degree in 1934. He became a faculty member at the university in 1939, and was director of the school of music from 1954 until his retirement in 1980. The Voxman Music Building at the university was named in his honor in 1995. Through his work, Voxman became one of the most well-known and respected music educators in the nation. Eugene Rousseau
, the classical saxophonist, is one of his former students. Much of his music was published by Rubank, Inc.
. He also served on the National Commission for Accreditation of Teacher Education and Welfare, on North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
, as a field reader for music projects, on the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and as a member of the Academic Panel for cultural exchange projects for the United States Department of State
. He received citations and awards from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
, Mu Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Lambda
, Sigma Alpha Iota
, Tau Beta Pi
, Phi Lambda Upsilon
, Sigma Xi
, and also received class honors. The Iowa Bandmaster's Association presented him an Honorary Life Membership, and the Iowa Music Educators Association its Distinguished Service Award. The Bell System awarded him its Silver Baton, and he holds the Honorary Degree of Doctor from Coe College
and a Doctor of Humane Letters from DePaul University
. In 1984 he was the woodwind judge for the finals of the Canadian National Competitive Festival of Music. He has received the Award of Merit from the Federation of State High School Music Associations and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri State High School Activities Association
.
On December 20, 2008, Voxman received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Iowa.
On July 1, 2009, he was inducted into the Fine Arts category of the National Federation of State High School Associations
' National High School Hall of Fame.
He died in 2011 in Iowa City.
; d. 1912 Centerville, Iowa
) and Mollie Voxman (b. 1878 Kiev, Ukraine; d. 1943 Chicago
), Tzipanuk, three years after they immigrated to the United States. Until Himie was in high school, spellings of the surname varied among family members: Vocksman, Vakcman, and Vaksman.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician, music pedagogue and administrator at the university level, and composer who produced volumes of compositions and pedagogical literature for wind instruments.
Higher education & career as a collegiate academician
Born in Centerville, IowaCenterville, Iowa
Centerville is a city in and the county seat of Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,528 in the 2010 census, a decline from 5,924 in the 2000 census. After the turn of the 20th century Centerville had a booming coal mining industry that attracted many European immigrants...
, Voxman studied at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1933 in chemical engineering and a master's degree in 1934. He became a faculty member at the university in 1939, and was director of the school of music from 1954 until his retirement in 1980. The Voxman Music Building at the university was named in his honor in 1995. Through his work, Voxman became one of the most well-known and respected music educators in the nation. Eugene Rousseau
Eugene Rousseau (saxophonist)
Eugene Rousseau is an American classical saxophonist. He plays mainly the alto and soprano saxophones....
, the classical saxophonist, is one of his former students. Much of his music was published by Rubank, Inc.
Rubank, Inc.
Rubank, Inc., founded in 1926, was a large music publisher based in Chicago that is now, by way of acquisition, part of the Hal Leonard Corporation...
Affiliations & honors
Voxman had served as Chairman of the Commission on Graduate Studies for the National Association of Schools of MusicNational Association of Schools of Music
The National Association of Schools of Music is an association of post-secondary music schools in the United States and the principal U.S. accreditor for higher education in music...
. He also served on the National Commission for Accreditation of Teacher Education and Welfare, on North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
, as a field reader for music projects, on the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and as a member of the Academic Panel for cultural exchange projects for the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
. He received citations and awards from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...
, Mu Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Lambda
Pi Kappa Lambda
Pi Kappa Lambda is an American honor society for undergraduate students, graduate students, and professors of music. There are currently 205 active chapters and approximately 64,500 individual members....
, Sigma Alpha Iota
Sigma Alpha Iota
Sigma Alpha Iota , International Music Fraternity for Women. Formed to "uphold the highest standards of music" and "to further the development of music in America and throughout the world", it continues to provide musical and educational resources to its members and the general public...
, Tau Beta Pi
Tau Beta Pi
The Tau Beta Pi Association is the oldest engineering honor society in the United States and the second oldest collegiate honor society in America. It honors engineering students who have shown a history of academic achievement as well as a commitment to personal and professional integrity...
, Phi Lambda Upsilon
Phi Lambda Upsilon
Phi Lambda Upsilon National Honorary Chemical SocietyFounded in 1899 at the Noyes Laboratory of the University of Illinois. Phi Lambda Upsilon was the first honor society dedicated to scholarship in a single discipline, chemistry.-Objectives:...
, Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
, and also received class honors. The Iowa Bandmaster's Association presented him an Honorary Life Membership, and the Iowa Music Educators Association its Distinguished Service Award. The Bell System awarded him its Silver Baton, and he holds the Honorary Degree of Doctor from Coe College
Coe College
Coe College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Founded in 1851, the institution is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Its current president is James R. Phifer. It is one of the smaller universities to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa...
and a Doctor of Humane Letters from DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
. In 1984 he was the woodwind judge for the finals of the Canadian National Competitive Festival of Music. He has received the Award of Merit from the Federation of State High School Music Associations and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri State High School Activities Association
Missouri State High School Activities Association
The Missouri State High School Activities Association is the governing body for high school activities throughout the state of Missouri...
.
On December 20, 2008, Voxman received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Iowa.
On July 1, 2009, he was inducted into the Fine Arts category of the National Federation of State High School Associations
National Federation of State High School Associations
The National Federation of State High School Associations is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. Most high schools, whether public or private, belong to their state's high school association; in turn, each state association...
' National High School Hall of Fame.
He died in 2011 in Iowa City.
Family
Voxman was born in 1912 to Jewish Ukrainian parents, Morris Voxman (b. 1879 Chernigov, UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
; d. 1912 Centerville, Iowa
Centerville, Iowa
Centerville is a city in and the county seat of Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,528 in the 2010 census, a decline from 5,924 in the 2000 census. After the turn of the 20th century Centerville had a booming coal mining industry that attracted many European immigrants...
) and Mollie Voxman (b. 1878 Kiev, Ukraine; d. 1943 Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
), Tzipanuk, three years after they immigrated to the United States. Until Himie was in high school, spellings of the surname varied among family members: Vocksman, Vakcman, and Vaksman.
External links
- Himie Voxman Research Archive Collection Guide - University of IowaUniversity of IowaThe University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
Libraries' Rita Benton Music Library. - "Engineering graduate: clarinet LEGEND" by Anne Tanner, University of Iowa fyi Faculty & Staff News, Vol. 40, No. 2 (September 6, 2002).
- Himie Voxman - University of Iowa Alumni Association.
- Himie Voxman (video interview). NAMMNAMM ShowThe NAMM Show is one of the largest music product trade shows in the world, founded in 1901. It is held every January in Anaheim, California, USA, at the Anaheim Convention Center...
Oral History Program, 2009-04-07. Retrieved on 2009-09-02.