Alexander Lepak, founder of The Hartt School’s percussion program and longtime percussionist for the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, died on March 25 at the age of 88.

Lepak was a professor emeritus at The Hartt School, where he taught countless students over a career that spanned more than 50 years. He was honored as Hartt Alumnus of the Year in 1981 and Teacher of the Year in 1991, and in 1997 he was inducted into the Percussion Arts Society Hall of Fame.

The Hartt Graduate Percussion Group will be dedicating its performance this evening (Friday, March 27) to Lepak, and will take a moment during the performance to acknowledge his contributions to The Hartt School. The Graduate Percussion Group will perform tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Millard Auditorium.

"Al Lepak was a world-class drummer, percussionist, timpanist, composer, and pedagogue,” said Professor of Percussion Ben Toth. “He founded the percussion program at The Hartt School in 1950, making it one of the very first in the country. All of the accomplishments of the Hartt Percussion Department since that time are reflective of his influence.

“We keep his name on the door to the Hartt percussion studio and his photo prominently displayed as a reminder of the debt we owe him,” Toth said. “More importantly, his presence in our daily music making serves as a constant and never-ending source of inspiration.”

T. Clark Saunders, interim dean of The Hartt School, said “Without exception, people spoke in glowing terms about Professor Lepak and his impact on The Hartt School, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and the students that he cared so much about. Al Lepak had astounding ability and incredible character. The arts community has lost a wonderful man.”

Lepak was the author of the Friese-Lepak Timpani Method and many other books that have become standard texts worldwide. His Concerto for Mallet Instruments has been performed in the United States, Canada and throughout Europe. Lepak was solo timpanist and principal percussionist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra for 56 years, and was a longtime member of the Connecticut Opera Association. He was a member of the International Faculty of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada as a teacher and conductor for 27 years. As a performer, he has played on TV and film soundtracks including the movies Star Trek, The Jerk, Roar and Shogun. He is also heard on Frank Sinatra's Trilogy album, as well as recently touring with Andrea Bocelli

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 28, at 10 a.m. at the St. Gabriel Church, 379 Broad St., Windsor, Conn. Burial with Military Honors will be in Windsor Veterans Memorial Cemetery. His family will receive friends today (Friday, March 27), from 4-8 p.m. at the Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alexander Lepak Scholarship Fund, c/o The Hartt School, 200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117 or to the VNA Healthcare, Attn: Development Office, 103 Woodland St., Hartford, CT 06105.

Read Lepak’s obituary in the Hartford Courant, and leave online condolences.