Alexander L. Lepak

American timpanist, percussionist and distinguished music educator, Professor Emeritus of Theory and Percussion at the University Of Hartford (1 July 1920, Hartford, Connecticut — 25 March 2009, Windsor, Connecticut). Alexander "Al" Lepak created a renowned educational Friese-Lepak Timpani Method and established one of the nation's oldest university programs at Hartt School in 1950. He played timpani in The Hartford Symphony Orchestra for many years and got inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1997. Lepak had ten children, some of whom also became professional musicians, including Alexander L. Jr (b. 1946), Andrew H. II (b. 1944) and Peter J. Lepak (b. 1953). Alexander Lepak was born in a family of Polish descent and spent most of his life in Connecticut, living and working in Windsor since 1953. He began playing timpani, as well as composing and arranging, in the high school ensemble. Lepak's first concerts were at local clubs and hotels with John Mehegan's orchestra. During World War II, he served as the US Marines' 3rd Brigade Orchestra conductor stationed in Samoa, the Marshall Islands and Guam. After the war, Lepak settled in New York, playing with popular jazz ensembles and big bands, including Bob Chester And His Orchestra, Les Elgart's and Raymond Scott's orchestras. Around that time, he began theory studies with Henry Adler and Alfred Friese (1876—1971). Al Lepak returned to Connecticut to finish his degree at Hartt and graduated cum laude in 1950; he stayed at the faculty upon graduation and began teaching theory and percussion. In addition to his educational career, Al Lepak was a noted performer, composer and publisher. He appeared on several of Hartford Symphony's LPs on Vanguard and Decca and Frank Sinatra's Trilogy: Past, Present & Future 3xLP album. Lepak spent 1979–80 on a sabbatical in Los Angeles, California, where he recorded for soundtracks, including Noel Marshall's 1981 adventure thriller/comedy Roar, Maurice Jarre's Shōgun, Star Trek and several other TV shows. Lepak taught at Hartt School for over 40 years, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1991. An incomplete list of his notable students includes microtonalist and percussionist Emil Richards, famous session musician and band leader Joe Porcaro, jazz drummer Eric McPherson, Amy Lynn Barber, founder of Prague Percussion Project, Tele Lesbines, principal timpanist of Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, composer Stuart Smith (2), Noble & Cooley drum designer Bob Gatzen, African drums expert Joe Galeota, Judith Chilnick, Bill Hayes (2), Bob Zimmitti, Thad Wheeler, Ed Mann, Brian Johnson (5), Brian Slawson, Frank Vilardi, Tom Oldakowski, Ira Newman and numerous others.