Earle Louder (1932-2021)

Famed Euphonium Virtuoso Soloist

Biography

Earle L. Louder has been acclaimed by colleagues around the world as one of the finest euphonium virtuosos of all time. In addition to his performances with the New Columbian Brass Band, Louder is the assistant conductor and soloist with Leonard B. Smith's Detroit Concert Band. He has also appeared as principal euphonium and featured soloist with Keith Brion's New Sousa Band in concerts throughout the United States.

Louder achieved national prominence during his tenure with the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C. As a member of the Navy Band, Louder served as Head of the Brass Department and euphonium soloist for 12 years.

Louder completed his undergraduate work at Michigan State University, where he studied with the renowned euphonium artist, Leonard Falcone. He earned his doctoral degree at Florida State University, and achieved the distinction of being the first person ever to complete the Doctor of Music degree in Euphonium Performance .

Since leaving the Navy Band, Louder has been resident artist and Distinguished Professor of Music at Morehead State University in Kentucky. He is in great demand nationally and internationally as a guest euphonium soloist, clinician, adjudicator, and conductor.

-1994 (ITEA Honorary Life Members)

A freelance euphonium artist, conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, Earle is retired Distinguished Professor Emeritus of euphonium and tuba from Morehead State University, Morehead, KY, where he was Resident-Artist for twenty-seven years. In addition to performing with Symphonia, Dr. Louder is currently principal and featured euphonium soloist with Keith Brion's NEW SOUSA BAND, Dr. Leonard Smith's DETROIT CONCERT BAND and BLOSSOM MUSIC CENTER FESTIVAL BAND, and George Foreman's NEW COLUMBIAN BRASS BAND. He is also a permanent faculty member at the BLUE LAKE FINE ARTS CAMP in Michigan, where he is euphonium instructor, soloist, conductor, and annually adjudicates the International Euphonium Solo Competition for the LEONARD FALCONE INTERNATIONAL EUPHONIUM/TUBA FESTIVAL.

Before going to Morehead State University, Dr Louder was, for twelve seasons, principal and featured euphonium soloist and Head of the Brass Department of the "World Famous" UNITED STATES NAVY BAND in Washington, D.C., where he also conducted the Navy Band Ceremonial Unit and was stand-by conductor for several national concert tours. Before going to the Navy Band, he was principal euphonium and assistant conductor of the 46th INFANTRY DIVISION BAND of the Michigan National Guard of the United States.

Dr. Louder completed his undergraduate studies at Michigan State University under the guidance of the renowned euphonium teacher and artist, Dr. Leonard Falcone. His doctoral degree work was completed at Florida State University, from which he holds the distinction of being the first person to complete the Doctor of Music degree in Euphonium Performance. He is one of those rare individuals who professionally performs on all three low brass instruments...trombone, euphonium, and tuba.

Dr. Louder is in great demand as guest euphonium artist, clinician, adjudicator, and conductor, nationally and internationally. His performances have taken him throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and South America. He is acclaimed, around the world, as one of the finest euphonium virtuosos of all time.

-David Werden (from dwerden.com website)

Earle, a graduate of Michigan State University and student of Leonard Falcone, was revered as a euphonium soloist, ensemble member, and mentor to countless students of all ages over a long and distinguised career. Dr. Louder was formerly principal euphonium of the United States Navy Band, and Professor of Euphonium and Tuba at Morehead State University. He served the Falcone Festival as a regular adjudicator, as a featured guest artist, and as coordinator of competition music selection. All of us celebrate his artistry and lifelong commitment to music, and will miss his camaraderie, his resonant bass voice, and his wise council in all facets of music and life.

-Leonard Falcone Festival Website

MSU Mourns the Passing of Retiree Dr. Earle Louder

The Morehead State University community is mourning the loss of retiree and professor emeritus Dr. Earle Louder, who died Wednesday, May 26, at age 88.

Louder began his career at MSU in 1968 as a music professor, specializing in euphonium and tuba. In 1987, he was awarded the MSU Alumni Association's Distinguished Faculty Award and the Kentucky Music Education Association's Teacher of the Year Award, which he would win again the following year. In 1994, he was named a lifetime member of the International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA), of which he was a founding member.

Louder retired in 1996 and was given the title of professor emeritus. In 1999, he received the Tubist Universal Brotherhood Association (TUBA) Lifetime Achievement Award. Most recently, he was awarded the prestigious Edwin Franko Goldman Citation in 2019, presented by the American Bandmasters Association in March 2020.

Throughout his career and after his retirement, Louder performed with many groups, including the U. S. Navy Band, Symphonia, Keith Brion's New Sousa Band, the Danville Advocate Brass Band and the River City Brass Band, among others. He also served as conductor, adjudicator and judge for several concert band festivals and marching band competitions. He was a permanent faculty member at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan, where he spent more than 30 years as a euphonium instructor, soloist, conductor and annually adjudicated the International Euphonium Solo Competition for the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium/Tuba Festival.

Louder earned his undergraduate degree at Michigan State University, where he studied with the renowned euphonium artist Leonard Falcone. He earned his doctoral degree at Florida State University.

He attended Clearfield Baptist Church where he was a deacon and minister of music.

He is survived by his wife, Louise Twiford Louder; two sons, Joseph and Stephen Louder; three daughters, Mary Nixon, Kathy Norman, and Leslie O'Neal; dozens of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

-Morehead State University (June 3, 2021)

Obituary

Earle L. Louder was born in Somerset, Pennsylvania, on July 30, 1932 and passed quickly and peacefully from this life on May 26, 2021. He was known by many names: Doc, Daddy, Uncle Earle, Grampa, and more. He loved them all. He was a consummate professional, but a family man and friend before anything else. He truly cared about people, be it students, colleagues, or family.

Earle was a man with deep faith in God. He attended Clearfield Baptist Church in Clearfield, KY where he was a deacon and Minister of Music. For many years, he served as the Minister of Music for the First Baptist Church in Morehead, KY where he also taught Sunday School. He often sang and played his horn in the church, giving glory to God using the gifts he was given. He shared love and time with everyone he met, quietly demonstrating a life of service to others and to God.

Earle was preceded in death by his parents (Joseph Greenleaf Louder and Mary Eicher Louder), a brother (Glenn), a sister (Martha), his infant son (John Mark), a grandson (Mathew Perry), and a great-grandson (Josh Raftevold). He is survived by his wife (Louise Twiford Louder), two sons (Joseph and Stephen Louder), three daughters (Mary Nixon, Kathy Norman, and Leslie O'Neal), dozens of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Dr. Louder was a retired Distinguished Professor Emeritus of euphonium and tuba from Morehead State University, Kentucky, where he also served as Resident-Artist for 27 years. Before his tenure at Morehead State, he was for 12 seasons principal and featured euphonium soloist and head of the brass department of United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C., where he also conducted the Navy Band Ceremonial Unit. Before his service with the Navy Band, he was principal euphonium and assistant conductor of the 46th Infantry Division Band of the Michigan State National Guard.

His education includes an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University, studying under the renowned euphonium artist Leonard V. Falcone. His doctoral work was completed at Florida State University from which he holds the distinction of being the first person to complete the Doctor of Music degree in Euphonium Performance. He was a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternities.

Acclaimed as one of the finest euphonium virtuosos of all time, Dr. Louder performed on three low brass instruments -- trombone, tuba and euphonium -- a rare achievement for professional musicians. He was also in great demand as a guest euphonium soloist, clinician, adjudicator, and conductor in the United States and internationally. He was principal and featured euphonium soloist with Keith Brion's "New Sousa Band", Dr. Leonard B. Smith's "Detroit Concert Band" and the Blossom Music Center Festival Band, the Bluegrass Wind Ensemble, and a performer on euphonium with the Grammy-nominated euphonium/tuba ensemble "Symphonia."

He was a permanent faculty member at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan, spending more than 30 summers sharing his knowledge and artistry with staff and campers of all ages, and received Blue Lake’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 2013. He performed with Blue Lake’s Festival Band, adjudicated in the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival, and completed six tours with Blue Lake’s International Exchange Program throughout Europe.

Those who knew of Dr. Louder will know about his legendary musical skill. However, those who knew him personally will know that he was a legend not only because of his musical skill but because of his humanity and his compassion for others and his incredible faith. He received many accolades and awards during a long and successful career, but that all pales in comparison to what a beautiful human being Dr. Louder really was and how he modeled great integrity on a daily basis. Saying that he will be missed by so many is an understatement. His former students became his extended family. He treated everyone he met with the same respect, be it an esteemed professional colleague or a junior high school student.

Earle was a founding member of the Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association (TUBA) which later became the International Tuba/Euphonium Association (ITEA). Dr. Louder received the ITEA's Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the Kentucky Music Educators Association's Teacher of the Year award.

The last honor that Dr. Louder received was the prestigious Edwin Franko Goldman Citation in 2019, presented by the American Bandmasters Association in March 2020 in Biloxi, Mississippi.

-Northcutt & Son Funeral Home Obituary - Tributes

Leonard Falcone

Harold Brasch