Nilo Hovey


Nilo W. Hovey was a clarinetist, composer, conductor, music educator and author of many musical instrument method books.

Early life

Nilo Wellington Hovey was born in Iowa on September 22, 1906 to Leroy Dana and Lois Graham Hovey. Raised in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Hovey participated in the Cedar Falls Municipal Band, initially on saxophone, but eventually on most of the reed instruments, and attended Iowa State Teacher's College.

Career

During Hovey's tenure as Director of Instrumental Music in the public schools of Hammond, Indiana, he wrote his first instructional book, a method book for clarinet titled Rubank Elementary Method: Clarinet.
Among the bands he directed in Hammond were the Hammond Technical High School band and the George Rogers Clark High School band, both of which received accolades under his direction.
In 1944, Mr. Hovey began a position as director of the Concert Band and Chairman of the Music Education department at the Arthur Jordan College of Music at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mr. Hovey started working for the Selmer Company in 1957 as the Education Director in Elkhart, Indiana and remained there for the next 18 years and received many awards and accolades.
Hovey served as the president of the Music Industry Council from 1962-1964, as well as the president of the American Bandmaster's Association from 1970-1971. He was also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Beta Mu and the Canadian Bandmasters Association. Before his death, Hovey continued to direct numerous bands and ensembles and wrote or edited many music instruction books and methods which are still in use today. Hovey was also inducted into the National Band Association’s Hall of
Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors shortly before his death in March, 1986.

Personal life

Hovey married Ruth Emily Sinden from Maquoketa, Iowa in December 1927, whom he met while a student at Iowa State Teachers College. After her death in 1978, Hovey married Helen Gowdy in 1979. Hovey had two daughters by the previous marriage.
Hovey died on March 14, 1986.

List of works

Books