In Memory of Harold McNiel

Harold McNiel, a long-time faculty member of the music department at Houghton College, passed away on Thursday, July 15, 2010. He was 76.

Dr. McNiel joined the Houghton College faculty in 1958. His longevity – 44 years – was a result of a covenant he made with the Lord to follow Him.

Growing up in Oklahoma, Harold’s early involvement with music, as a boy soprano at his Southern Methodist church and on the trumpet beginning in 7^th grade, revealed his calling to teach music. He followed that calling first by founding and directing musical groups in high school. Then he attended Oklahoma City University, earning a bachelor’s of music in 1956. He doubled majored in Euphonium and voice under cornet virtuoso James Neilson and opera bel canto specialist Vera Neilson. It was there that he made a covenant with God to follow His leading.

When the Lord provided an opportunity to study at Eastman School of Music on a full scholarship, Harold and his wife Carol, moved to New York. A member of the Eastman Symphonic Wind Ensemble and a music education and conducting graduate assistant, he completed his master’s of music in 1958.

An Eastman professor “collared” him, and proposed the idea of teaching at Houghton College, a school he had not heard of before. After meeting with Dr. Charles Finney and Dean Arthur Lynip, Harold and his wife felt the Lord’s calling. With their two children they moved to Houghton. From that time, the McNeils had four more children; five in the family attending Houghton College.

In 1968, he earned a doctor of musical arts at Eastman, an unusual degree at the time, combining the requirements of a music college with courses in music education plus three recitals and a dissertation. This comprehensive degree is perhaps the reason he taught almost every music class offered at Houghton and conducted multiple ensembles and orchestras. He also founded Wind Ensemble and Jazz Workshop.

During his time at Houghton, Harold was a brass player, conductor, singer, lecturer, professor and adjudicator. He co-founded the New York State Inter-Collegiate Band. As a life member of the College Band Director’s National Association, he was an officer and a panel emcee in televised meetings. In addition, he taught for 12 years at the Csehy Summer School of Music, two years as dean. In 1994, he was designated Houghton’s Mabel Barnum Davidson Professor of Fine Arts.

Outside of his classes, he pursued his own research in ethnomusicology and music therapy. In 1981, Harold spent his sabbatical at Cornell University, studying Chinese literature, language, philosophy, culture and music. He also studied South American, African and Afghanistan music. For 20 years, he enjoyed flying, using it as a service project, flying in the Civil Air Patrol and performing search and rescue.

40 years after his arrival on campus, the new Center for the Arts became a reality. After years of prayer and service, Harold was pleased to be a part of the “flowering period” of Houghton’s music program.

When Harold retired from Houghton College in 2002, the department of music recognized his experience, excellence and encouragement he had provided for so many years. One music major commented, “When Dr. McNiel retires, we’ll need about three professors to replace him.” A colleague, who was seven when Harold joined the faculty at Houghton, said, “Harold has been a leader in developing music policy and in shaping current success of music-making at Houghton. He has been a rock of continuity to a proud past, and serves as a reminder of our ongoing responsibility toward the future.”

Houghton College thanks Harold McNiel for answering God’s call to teach at Houghton, for his enormous contribution to the music department and college faculty and for 44 years of service. With his passing, a great man has left our presence, but he and his family will remain in our prayers forever.

The information above is taken from Harold McNiel’s retirement citation – given on April 18, 2002.