LSU Libraries says goodbye to Glenn Walden

Glenn Waldon playing trombone with the Baton Rouge Concert Band

Glenn Walden, Ph.D. retired on April 2, which marked 34 years of service as a Library Associate at LSU.

Following graduation with Special Honors from Jacksonville State University, Glenn came to LSU in the summer of 1969 to begin a Master of Arts degree in musicology.  He continued his studies while serving as a high school band director in Gadsden, Alabama.   In 1974, he began doctoral studies at LSU and was awarded a graduate assistantship doing the recording of recitals and concerts for the School of Music. In 1978, he was awarded a graduate assistantship in musicology.   Also while a graduate student, he played bass trombone in the LSU Symphony Orchestra and sackbut (an early form of trombone from the Renaissance and Baroque eras) in the Collegium Musicum.

He served as head of the Listening Rooms Department for 20 years and 14 years as Music Tech Coordinator in the Carter Music Resources Center. Major achievements in his first position were to work closely with the School of Music and English Department in adding recordings to the collection that supported coursework and research particularly in those areas. As technology developed, new formats including compact discs, video tapes, and laser discs were added. With the creation of the Carter Music Resources Center in 2002, Glenn was given the responsibility to design and install a professional-grade listening and video facility. Other major responsibilities included converting listening reserves to a digital format accessible to students via computer.

Glenn Walden in 2000, at work

As a musicologist, Glenn has been active in the American Musicological Society, Music Library Association, and has served as President of the South Central Society of Music Theory.  He has published and presented numerous papers at regional meetings, scholars’ symposiums, LSU Composers’ Forums, and Festschrifts.  He has written program notes for campus concerts, the Louisiana Sinfonietta, and the world-renowned English Chamber Orchestra.  Glenn served as President of the Epsilon Nu Chapter of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonietta Music Fraternity and was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Music Society.

Best wishes Glenn!