Harold Haugh
Harold Haugh, professor emeritus of music, died May 24 in Ann Arbor at the age of 94. The Cleveland native joined the U-M faculty in 1948 and continued as a voice teacher until his retirement in 1976.
A tenor who started his musical career as a youngster singing in the church where his mother was the organist, Haugh went on to become the leading oratorio soloist in the United States, performing with all of the leading symphony orchestras and choral societies. The Boston Globe called him the greatest oratorio tenor of his time.
Intending to enter the ministry, Haugh entered Union Theological Seminary where he obtained a bachelor’s degree of divinity and a master’s degree in sacred music.
In an interview with the Ann Arbor Observer in 1995, Haugh recounted how he sang his first “Messiah” in 1928 and continued to sing in that Handel work 250 more times during his career. With a love for the stage, Haugh entertained local audiences with Kerrytown Concert House performances well after his 70th birthday. “If anybody ever suggests that I’m singing just as well as I ever did, you know they’re full of baloney,” he told the Observer. “I’m out there and nobody vomits when I sing, so I keep doing it!”
To honor the long-time professor, the University established the Harold Haugh Faculty Award in 1975. The award recognizes and rewards excellence in private studio teaching. Upon his retirement, Haugh was the first recipient of the award.
Survivors include his wife, Anne, of Ann Arbor; two daughters; and eight grandchildren. Tentative arrangements have been made for a memorial service at 11 a.m. June 8 at the First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor. Haugh’s body has been donated to medical science.
From News and Information Services
