DR. LARA G. HOGGARD

Lara G. Hoggard, a William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of music, is internationally recognized as a creative music educator, conductor and author.

Hoggard was born in 1915 in Kingston, Okla. He earned an B.A. from Southeastern State College in Oklahoma in 1934 and an M.A. and a D.Ed. in 1947 from Columbia University.

Hoggard came to UNC-CH in 1967 with tremendous experience in choral music. He had been conductor of the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale in Texas, which he helped establish. He also founded the National Young Artist Competition in Midland, which now honors winners with awards named in his honor. He was director of the Youth and Music in Vienna Festival, whose sponsors offer a scholarship in his name. Hoggard has conducted hundreds of festivals and choirs worldwide and was musical director of CBS and NBC network radio and television broadcasts. He also was the producer and conductor of the award-winning National Concert Company.

Hoggard was the first teacher in UNC-CH's Division of Fine Arts to be named a William R. Kenan Jr. Professor. At the University, he established the Carolina Choir, which quickly became known as the best in the Southeast. For 25 years he directed the UNC-CH Summer Institute in Choral Arts. Hoggard wrote "Improving Music Reading" and co-wrote the series "Exploring Music."

Hoggard has been bestowed with many honors and awards. Gov. Jim Hunt honored him with the state’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 1980, the highest award the governor's office can bestow. At UNC-CH, he was named to the Order of the Golden Fleece and received the Tanner Award for excellence in teaching in 1972. He was selected by students as one of the 10 best professors at the University.

Hoggard retired from UNC-CH in 1980. He and his wife, Mildred, live in Chapel Hill.  They have one daughter, Susan.