Dr. Frank M. Hammond | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Dr. Frank M. Hammond, 78, of 129 Fairway Drive, Washington, died at his residence on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. He was born Jan. 21, 1933, in Fair Bluff, to the late Chalmers and Mamie Hammond.

    Attending East Carolina University and earning his B.S. in Music Education in 1955, Dr. Hammond then served as an United States Air Force pilot with the Strategic Air Command from 1955 to 1958. He earned his M.S. in Music Education from the University of Illinois in 1959 and his doctorate in Music Education from the University of North-Carolina in 1973, the first doctorate in music education awarded by UNC-Greensboro.

    Dr. Hammond's life was devoted to music and to music education. He taught instrumental music in the North Carolina public schools, grades 4 through 12, for 13 years. At UNC-G, Dr. Hammond taught trombone, Brass Pedagogy, Conduction, and Instrumental Methods and supervised student teachers. He conducted the University Band, Trombone Choir, and Jazz Ensemble. Additionally, he performed with the Market Street Brass Quintet.

    Accepting a position with North Carolina State University, Dr. Hammond served as Director of Bands, conductor of the marching band, symphonic band, British Brass Band, trombone choir, tuba choir, and the jazz ensemble, retiring in 1995.

    During the summer of 1991, Dr. Hammond was coordinator of the NCSU Abroad, a summer studies program at Oxford University in Oxford, England.

    In recognition of his devotion and contribution to the music program at North Carolina State University, his former students have established the Frank M. Hammond Music Scholarship.

    After his retirement from NCSU in 1995, Dr. Hammond relocated to Washington, and continued his involvement in music education as an educational representative for Pearson Music Company, McFadyen Music Company, and Brook Mays Music Company until 2005.

    He then conducted small ensembles, taught music lessons, and was a mentor for students and faculty at the Music Academy of Eastern Carolina in Greenville.

    Along with his academic career, Dr. Hammond continued performance in other venues. He played with the Ringling Brothers Circus, Holiday on Ice, Modern Jazz Quartet, Clark Terry, and John Lewis. As a trombonist, he particularly enjoyed jazz music and often performed in small and large ensembles, including the Tar River Community Band and the Emerald City Big Band.

    Dr. Hammond enjoyed performing annually at Homecoming with the Collegians, "the best band in Tar Heel Land," a group of ECU alumni who had performed in the Collegians dance band while undergraduates.

    Dr. Hammond is survived by his wife, the former Constance Ross, of the home; his son, Steven Hammond and wife Dana and their daughter, Taylor, of Tampa, Fla.; his daughter, Karen Hammond and her daughter, Madison, of Raleigh; his stepson, Harold R. Helms and his daughter, Madeline, of Macomb, Mich.; and a brother, Tom Hammond and wife Mary of Athens, Ga.

    Visitation will be held at the residence, 129 Fairway Drive, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday.

    A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Washington. The Rev. Barbara Chaffee will officiate.

    The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Music Academy of Eastern North Carolina, 1400 Red Banks Road, Greenville, NC 27858 to establish the Hammond Music Institute in support of Dr. Hammond's legacy of music in North Carolina.

    Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Hammond family.