The Fraternity regretfully announces the passing of past National President Robert Hause III, Epsilon (Michigan) ’55.

Born and raised in Shelby, N.C., Robert Hause studied the trombone at the University of Michigan, where he graduated cum laude in 1958 and completed a master’s degree in music theory in 1960. After graduate study, and teaching and conducting jobs in Jacksonville, Florida (1960-1962) and Stetson University (1962-1967), Brother Hause joined the faculty of the East Carolina School of Music, where he conducted the ECU Symphony from 1967 until 1995. The highlights of his conducting career were significant: two performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony; riverside “pops” concerts at annual spring festivals in Wilmington, North Carolina with the orchestra playing on a barge for crowds of more than 2,000; and the selection of his orchestra as one of only 13 in the nation for a special series of broadcasts over National Public Radio.

Summer months found Brother Hause conducting at the Brevard Music Center, Interlochen or the Eastern Music Festival. After passing the baton of the East Carolina Symphony in 1995, he served as Chair of the Instrumental Department from 1995 to 1999, and then as Assistant Dean of the School of Music until his retirement in 2005.

Brother Hause was initiated into the Epsilon Chapter at the University of Michigan on November 21, 1955. He served as Faculty Advisor to the Zeta Psi chapter at East Carolina from 1972 to 1976. It was during this time that he composed the song Ode, in honor of the chapter�s twentieth anniversary in 1975. He was appointed Governor of Province 20 in 1976 and held that position for eighteen years. After his election to the Fraternity’s National Executive Committee as Committeeman at Large in 1985, Brother Hause was elected President of the Sinfonia Foundation, a position he held until 1991. He was elected National President of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia at the 1991 National Convention and served in that office until 1994.

A public visitation will be held Sunday, February 7, from 2 pm to 4 pm at Wilkerson Funeral Home in Greenville, North Carolina (http://www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com). A larger memorial service will be held at a later date.

At the family’s request, memorial contributions may be made to the Sinfonia Educational Foundation. Funds raised will be used to form a memorial scholarship in Brother Hause’s name.