Born on April 25, 1916, Frederick Westphal took his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Illinois, majoring in conducting and arranging, and the next year added a BS in public school music. The following year he took a Master's degree in music education at the Eastman School, and after several years of teaching at Texas State College for Women, returned to Eastman to earn the Performer's Certificate in Clarinet at Eastman in 1947, and a PhD (with a thesis on music and radio broadcasting) in 1948.
He was then recommended for a position in a new California State College in Sacramento. It was a new institution with little in terms of tradition, but during Westphal's tenure as department chair from 1948 to 1963, the college had become a university, and the department grew to 350 majors, with 24 full-time faculty members.
Frederick Westphal was also a devoted community servant: member of the Board of Directors of the Sacramento Symphony Association, founding member of Sacramento Community Concerts, president of the California Music Educators Association, member of its State Board of Directors, and founder of the Sacramento Youth Orchestra and the Golden Empire Music Festival.
Westphal was also a prolific author and editor of music textbooks for William C. Brown (now McGraw-Hill), developing more than 112 different titles. His friend and colleague, Ruth Watanabe of the Sibley Music Library, once told him that he was the only editor in the history of United States publishing to develop and publish textbooks covering the entire scope of music - theory, applied music, music education, and music history.
Frederick Westphal died on December 23, 2003. At a memorial service and concert in February 2004, 19 colleagues and former students from 1948 to 1986 came back to Sacramento to perform in a clarinet choir. A message from the group printed in the program said simply, "This performance is for him. We say 'thank you, for your contribution has made a difference for us and the world of music. May your music live on through us and others you have touched.'"
In honor of Frederick Westphal, his achievements as a teacher, writer, and musician, and the music he continues to inspire, the Eastman School is proud to present its Alumni Achievement Award.
Rochester, New York
2004