Durham, George H., 1883-1974

George H. Durham (1883-1974) was a conductor, composer, and studious arranger.

Durham was born in Parowan, Utah in 1883, the son of a pioneer musician by the name of Thomas Durham. Receiving his early education from the Murdock Academy in Beaver, Utah. His musical talent led him to further study in Salt Lake City, Utah under the direction of John J. McClellan, Hugh Dougall, and Tracy Y. Cannon.

In 1913, his small family moved to Boston where he pursued advanced musical studies for the next five years with Charles W. Chadwick, dean of American composers, at the New England Conservatory of Music. He also studied at Boston University and completed summer courses with Archibald Davison and other Harvard University faculty members.

After he returned to Utah in 1918, Durham served as Music Supervisor of the Beaver County Schools. Later he served as Head of the Music Department of the L.D.S. High School and Junior College, directed Men's and Ladies Glee Clubs, large mixed choruses at General Conference, and produced/ conducted annual school operettas with C. Lowell Lees. Durham later studied composition with Arnold Schoenberg at the University of Southern California from 1935-36.

From the guide to the George H. Durham manuscripts, 1904-1970, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)