Jan Roshong
November 2, 1940 – November 26, 1994
ASO Music Director and Conductor 1978-1979
From his biographical sketch in the programs for the 1978-1979 concert season:
Dr. Jan C. Roshong begins his first season as conductor and musical director of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Roshong, who is assistant professor and director of bands at Ashland College, received his Ph.D. in music this summer from the Ohio State University, where he wrote a dissertation on conducting.
He has been director of bands and taught at the University of Akron and at Adams State College in Colorado, as well as in the Ashtabula and Parma public schools. He has been assistant conductor of The Ohio State University Concert Band and one of the directors of the All-Ohio State Fair Band. An accomplished oboist, Dr. Roshong has performed in numerous orchestras, including the Canton Symphony, the Akron Symphony, the American Wind Symphony, and the Columbus Symphony. He has studied oboe with Donald McGinnis and Evan Whallon.
With the announcement of his appointment, Dr. Roshong emphasized that one of his primary concerts will be “to increase community pride in the orchestra and to make Ashlanders aware of the uniqueness of having such a fine civic orchestra for a community this size.”
From the Memorial Performance and Dedication Ceremonies, 9/10/95 at Fort Lewis College:
He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the Ohio State University and had extensive experience in teaching and conducting, from elementary school to college levels.
Dr. Roshong joined Fort Lewis College as an assistant professor of music in 1979. He built the college’s struggling concert band program from 12 students in 1979 to more than 60 musicians by Fall 1994. Under his leadership as the music department chairman, the music program gained National Association of Schools of Music accreditation.
Dr. Roshong performed as an oboist with the Animas Chamber Players, the Four Corners Opera Festival, and as soloist with Music in the Mountains. He served on the Four Corners Opera board, the Colorado Council on the Arts, the Durango Arts Council, and the Durango Fine Arts Festival, both as board member and college facilities coordinator.
Dr. Roshong was founding conductor and music director of the San Juan Symphony from 1985 until his death. During his tenure, he merged the Durango Civic Symphony with the Farmington-based organization and developed a program that attracted nationally known guest artists and sell-out crowds.
At Fort Lewis, he was instrumental in directing the design and construction of the new recital hall and served as a co-chairman for the successful campaign to raise $5 million for the 600-seat concert hall. Dr. Roshong was much admired and respected by his students, who suggested the recital hall be named for their teacher and mentor.
Dr. Roshong met his wife, Rochelle Mann, in 1985 when he offered to share his office with the then-visiting flute instructor.