Dr. Leo Horacek to teach 50th OLLI course

“Military Music and Nationalism” to be held Tuesday

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Leo Horacek, Ph.D., professor emeritus of music at West Virginia University, will begin teaching his 50th course for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the WVU Center on Aging on Tuesday.

Founded in 1993, OLLI is a membership organization open to anyone age 50 or older regardless of educational background. The goal is to provide intellectually stimulating classes and peer discussions along with an opportunity for social and recreational activities, such as field trips to environmental and historic sites and for appreciation and study of the arts.

Dr. Horacek is one of more than 40 active and retired WVU faculty members who strongly support the curriculum. Instructors also include state and local specialists in public programs, business and union experts and religious leaders.

For his 50th course, Horacek will teach “Military Music and Nationalism” from 10 to 11:50 a.m. on tomorrow (Tuesday, July 10) in OLLI Classroom A at the Mountaineer Mall. The class will hear and discuss recordings of military bands from various countries.

Horacek graduated from the University of Kansas and, after a stint in the U.S. Navy during World War II, went back and received a Ph.D. in 1955. He taught at a variety of levels and locations before joining the faculty at WVU in 1960. While at WVU, he taught Music Education and Music Theory and co-authored a book, “Programmed Ear Training.” He retired in 1981.

Since his retirement, he has kept busy as a flight instructor, playing the organ and directing the choir at St. Thomas á Becket Episcopal Church in Morgantown.

“I started teaching courses for OLLI years ago, and I still do it because I like to study, and I like to talk,” Horacek said. “The OLLI students are the most receptive that I have known. It is rewarding.”

A celebration reception will be held immediately following the class.