Hayes School of Music

MacWilliam Disbrow (July 21, 1918-September 11, 1999), retired college professor, was born in Grand Rapids, MI, the son of Mable Edith and Alpha Laren Disbrow. Disbrow attended Davis Technical High School. During his high school years he participated in activities such as choir, orchestra, and the male quartet. He graduated in 1937.

Disbrow had one sister, Ilo Disbrow, and one brother, Loren Disbrow. Disbrow was married to Maxine Riegling Disbrow, the daughter of Edith and Floyd Riegling.

Disbrow served in the U.S. Navy from 1940-45, where he was trained in navigation and spent most of his time at sea. While in the Navy, he was stationed in Iceland, Newfoundland, Panama, Hawaii, Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan. Disbrow was discharged after the end of World War II at the rank of chief quartermaster in October 1945.

After leaving the Navy, Disbrow attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (now a part of the University of Cincinnati), where he received his B.M. and M.M. from Michigan State University (summers 1950, 1953), University of Wisconsin (summer 1963), and Eastman School of Music (summers 1963-65, 1968-69). Additionally, Disbrow attended symposia in classical music in Vienna, Austria (summer 1969), and in Renaissance music in both Vienna, Austria, and Venice, Italy (summer 1972).

In 1949, Disbrow organized and taught courses in the first music department of Jackson Junior College in Jackson, MI. He also organized a group of private music teachers from the community to contribute to the college music program.
In 1951, Disbrow was recalled to Active duty by the United States Navy during the Korean War. He was sent to Kodiak, AK, where he served as chief quartermaster in convoy and routing, admiral's staff. While in Kodiak, Disbrow organized a 100-voice choir to perform a special Christmas program and arranged the entire score of South Pacific for the military band for performances in Kodiak and other cities and posts in Alaska and the Aleutians.

Disbrow returned to Jackson Junior College in 1952, where he continued to teach music until 1966.

From 1956-60, Disbrow served as director and minister of music at the First Methodist Church of Jackson, MI. As director and minister of music, Disbrow coordinated all the musical activities of the church and performed all of the necessary administrative work. Disbrow resigned his church position in 1960 to dedicate more of his time to the junior college.

In 1961, Disbrow was appointed chairman of the Humanities Division of Jackson Junior College. In this position, he helped coordinate the activities of the foreign language, art, music, speech, and English departments.
Disbrow came to Appalachian State Teacher's College (now Appalachian State University) in 1966 as an assistant professor in the Department of Music. He was promoted to associate professor in 1971 and to professor in 1977. He also served as the coordinator of the music theory program since his arrival in 1966. While teaching at Appalachian State, Disbrow played viola with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, University Symphony, and Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra.

During his tenure at Appalachian State University, Disbrow served as chairman of the music library committee and as a member of the university committee on library and instructional services. Disbrow also made many contributions to the Cannon Music Camp held during the summers at Appalachian State. Disbrow had been associated with the Music Educators Association, American String Teachers Association, American Choral Directors Association, Michigan Music Teachers Association, Michigan Junior College Association, Michigan Education Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Mu Alpha.

Disbrow was appointed to the graduate faculty at Appalachian State University in 1984 and was granted emeritus status upon his retirement to honor his contributions to the institution.

In his retirement, MacWilliam Disbrow sold his house in Boone and moved to Sarasota, Fla. He was involved in the Red Cross Volunteer Program at the Memorial Hospital in Sarasota.

Sources: Appalachian State University files and personal correspondence.

- Dr. Richard Howe