In Memoriam

On January 11, 2001 the percussion world lost a gentle soul and powerful influence. Fred D. Hinger passed away at home, following a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease.

Fred D. Hinger started his professional career with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He was a student of William Street at the Eastman School of Music and graduated from that institution with a Bachelor of Music degree. His majors were Music Education and percussion. From 1942 to 1948 he was xylophone soloist and percussionist with the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C.

In 1948 he joined the Philadelphia Orchestra as Principal Percussionist. He was asked to be Principal Timpanist of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1951 and remained there in that capacity until 1967. During the Philadelphia period he was on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music. In 1967, he became the Principal Timpanist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra until his retirement in 1981.

He also served on the faculties of Yale University and the Manhattan School of Music. He also established the Hinger Touch-Tone Corp., manufacturers of custom percussion equipment.

Hinger was inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame in 1986.