Peter Dombourian
Encyclopedia
Peter Mampreh Dombourian (March 24, 1920 - January 13, 1992), was active in musical circles in New Orleans, Louisiana
, as a music educator, conductor, and musician.
merchant, and Zartouhi Bedrossian Dombourian (1892-1958). Both parents were born in Ichme, Turkey
. His paternal grandfather, Bedros Dombourajian, was killed by the Turks in 1898. Mampreh immigrated to the United States in 1904, establishing his rug business in New Orleans in 1910. In 1911, Mampreh brought Zartouhi to the United States. Mampreh helped numerous family members escape Armenia
to the United States. Peter and his brothers (Vartan, Masis, and Robert) were raised by their extended Armenian family in New Orleans.
from Louisiana State University
, with an interruption to serve as an Army
battery officer from 1942 to 1946. In recognition of his positive influence on music education in Louisiana, Peter was awarded an Honorary Doctor
of Humane Letters degree by the University of New Orleans
in December, 1989; and the Orleans Parish School Board established the Peter Dombourian Music Hall of Fame in 2004.
Dombourian began his career as band director at Behrman High School in Algiers, Louisiana
in 1946, but became band director at his alma mater, Fortier High School, in the fall of 1947. He continued in that position until 1970, except for a brief stint as an Army battalion adjutant during the Korean War
. He also served as band director at John F. Kennedy High School
(1971 – 1974). Beginning in 1974, he served as Supervisor of Music for the Orleans Parish School Board. During his term as Music Supervisor, he inaugurated the music program at Benjamin Franklin High School
, where he remained as the part-time band director and music teacher until 1991, when he stepped down for health reasons. Wynton Marsalis
, Dombourian’s band student at Franklin High School, said of him: "He had a love for music; always encouraged me to play; gave me a chance to play. He knew a lot of music, too."
In 1964, Dombourian was selected as one of the nation's 10 Most Outstanding Band Directors by The School Musician magazine. His Fortier High School bands captured Superior ratings from the Louisiana Music Educators Association for 20 consecutive years, and were invited to play concerts at the Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival
, the New York World's Fair, Expo '67 in Montreal, Hemis-Fair '68 in San Antonio, and Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan. His Kennedy and Franklin High bands played concerts at Walt Disney World and the Mexican International Festival in Mexico City.
Dombourian was the first high school band director elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters’ Association. During his career, he served as President of the Louisiana Music Educators Association, Convention Chairman for the Louisiana Music Educators National Conference
and for the American Bandmasters’ convention, President of the Beta Omega Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha, President of the LSU Music Alumni Association, President of the Louisiana Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, and State Chairman of the National Band Association. In 1986, he was named to the Louisiana Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.
, the American School Band Directors Association, the American String Teachers Association
, and the Music Teachers National Association.
Dombourian’s knowledge of local musicians and their regard for his musical and managerial abilities combined to make him an excellent organizer as well as a conductor. Summers weren’t complete in New Orleans without the Summer Pops Concerts, which he co-founded and for which he served as conductor and treasurer. He served for 20 years as Music Director for Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré
and conducted the New Orleans Civic Symphony. In 1975 he founded the New Orleans Concert Band, which performed at both the New Orleans and Vancouver World's Fairs, and which continues to flourish (www.neworleansconcertband.org).
One of the personal highlights of Dombourian’s career was conducting the world premiere of “Songs of Ararat,” a work for concert band by Loris Chobanian, in December, 1990. The work, commissioned by Peter’s students and friends in honor of his 70th birthday, was premiered by the New Orleans Concert Band.
, the U.S. Army Field Band, and the U.S. Air Force Band. He was also guest conductor for the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the Louisiana All-State Orchestra, the Governor's Honor Orchestra, and the Louisiana Music Educators’ Honors Band.
ist), and two granddaughters, Julienne and Joycelyn Eby.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, as a music educator, conductor, and musician.
Early life
Peter was the third of four sons of Mampreh Bedros Dombourian (1884-1950), a successful Oriental rugOriental rug
An authentic oriental rug is a handmade carpet that is either knotted with pile or woven without pile.By definition - Oriental rugs are rugs that come from the orient...
merchant, and Zartouhi Bedrossian Dombourian (1892-1958). Both parents were born in Ichme, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. His paternal grandfather, Bedros Dombourajian, was killed by the Turks in 1898. Mampreh immigrated to the United States in 1904, establishing his rug business in New Orleans in 1910. In 1911, Mampreh brought Zartouhi to the United States. Mampreh helped numerous family members escape Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
to the United States. Peter and his brothers (Vartan, Masis, and Robert) were raised by their extended Armenian family in New Orleans.
Music education career
Dombourian was best known as a music educator. He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music EducationMusic education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
from Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
, with an interruption to serve as an Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
battery officer from 1942 to 1946. In recognition of his positive influence on music education in Louisiana, Peter was awarded an Honorary Doctor
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
of Humane Letters degree by the University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
in December, 1989; and the Orleans Parish School Board established the Peter Dombourian Music Hall of Fame in 2004.
Dombourian began his career as band director at Behrman High School in Algiers, Louisiana
Algiers, Louisiana
Algiers is a neighborhood within the city of New Orleans. It is the portion of Orleans Parish on the West Bank of the Mississippi River.Algiers is also known as the 15th Ward, one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans.-History:...
in 1946, but became band director at his alma mater, Fortier High School, in the fall of 1947. He continued in that position until 1970, except for a brief stint as an Army battalion adjutant during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He also served as band director at John F. Kennedy High School
John F. Kennedy High School (New Orleans, Louisiana)
John F. Kennedy High School was a high school located in the Lakeshore area of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States. The school closed down subsequent to Hurricane Katrina in the fall of 2005...
(1971 – 1974). Beginning in 1974, he served as Supervisor of Music for the Orleans Parish School Board. During his term as Music Supervisor, he inaugurated the music program at Benjamin Franklin High School
Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Benjamin Franklin High School is a public magnet high school in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Commonly nicknamed "Franklin" or "Ben Franklin", this school should not be confused with Franklin High School in Franklin, Louisiana. Ben Franklin was founded in 1957 as a school for gifted children...
, where he remained as the part-time band director and music teacher until 1991, when he stepped down for health reasons. Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
, Dombourian’s band student at Franklin High School, said of him: "He had a love for music; always encouraged me to play; gave me a chance to play. He knew a lot of music, too."
In 1964, Dombourian was selected as one of the nation's 10 Most Outstanding Band Directors by The School Musician magazine. His Fortier High School bands captured Superior ratings from the Louisiana Music Educators Association for 20 consecutive years, and were invited to play concerts at the Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival
National Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a spring celebration in Washington, D.C., commemorating the March 27, 1912, gift of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington...
, the New York World's Fair, Expo '67 in Montreal, Hemis-Fair '68 in San Antonio, and Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan. His Kennedy and Franklin High bands played concerts at Walt Disney World and the Mexican International Festival in Mexico City.
Dombourian was the first high school band director elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters’ Association. During his career, he served as President of the Louisiana Music Educators Association, Convention Chairman for the Louisiana Music Educators National Conference
MENC: The National Association for Music Education
MENC: The National Association for Music Education is an organization of American music educators dedicated to advancing and preserving music education and as part of the core curriculum of schools in the United States...
and for the American Bandmasters’ convention, President of the Beta Omega Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha, President of the LSU Music Alumni Association, President of the Louisiana Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, and State Chairman of the National Band Association. In 1986, he was named to the Louisiana Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.
New Orleans music scene
He also was a member of such professional organizations as the American Federation of MusiciansAmerican Federation of Musicians
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada is a labor union of professional musicians in the United States and Canada...
, the American School Band Directors Association, the American String Teachers Association
American String Teachers Association
The American String Teacher's Association is a professional organization based in the United States for music teachers. It is the largest such national organization in the US for string teachers. It promotes learning to play string instruments in the next generation of American students, and...
, and the Music Teachers National Association.
Dombourian’s knowledge of local musicians and their regard for his musical and managerial abilities combined to make him an excellent organizer as well as a conductor. Summers weren’t complete in New Orleans without the Summer Pops Concerts, which he co-founded and for which he served as conductor and treasurer. He served for 20 years as Music Director for Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
and conducted the New Orleans Civic Symphony. In 1975 he founded the New Orleans Concert Band, which performed at both the New Orleans and Vancouver World's Fairs, and which continues to flourish (www.neworleansconcertband.org).
One of the personal highlights of Dombourian’s career was conducting the world premiere of “Songs of Ararat,” a work for concert band by Loris Chobanian, in December, 1990. The work, commissioned by Peter’s students and friends in honor of his 70th birthday, was premiered by the New Orleans Concert Band.
Guest conducting
Dombourian's success led to many guest conducting appearances around the globe, including the Sony Band in Tokyo, the Prefecture of Police Band in Paris, the U. S. Marine BandUnited States Marine Band
The United States Marine Band is the premier band of the United States Marine Corps. Established by act of Congress on July 11, 1798, it is the oldest of the United States military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the United States...
, the U.S. Army Field Band, and the U.S. Air Force Band. He was also guest conductor for the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the Louisiana All-State Orchestra, the Governor's Honor Orchestra, and the Louisiana Music Educators’ Honors Band.
Musical performance
Peter’s principal musical instruments were the viola and the flute. He performed with the New Orleans Ballet, the New Orleans Summer Pops Orchestra, the Saenger Theater Orchestra, and the University Of New Orleans Opera Orchestra, among others.Personal life
Dombourian was a long-time deacon of St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church and a Board Member of the Rotary Club of New Orleans. He was married for 45 years to Joyce Boyle Dombourian; they had two daughters, Joyce Markrid and Zartouhi (who is a noted piccoloPiccolo
The piccolo is a half-size flute, and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger sibling, the standard transverse flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written...
ist), and two granddaughters, Julienne and Joycelyn Eby.