Ralph George Laycock
From College of Fine Arts and Communications
Contents |
Overview
Ralph Laycock made many contributions to the College of Fine Arts and Communications, and is one of the people honored and remembered by the Laycock Center for Collaboration in the Arts.
Early Life
Laycock was born on February 11, 1920 in Alberta, Canada. From a young age he cultivated his love for music, organizing his first dance band at age 12. During World War II, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force Concert Band, further cultivating his talents.
Education
Laycock graduated from BYU in 1942 and received a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from Juilliard School of Music in 1948. He completed his doctorate at the University of Southern California in 1969.
Career
Following the completion of his masters, Laycock returned to Utah where he performed with the Utah Symphony for a season, creating his reputation as a skilled and versatile performer. He then left Utah to teach woodwinds at Drake University.
Laycock once again returned to Utah in 1953 when he was appointed as director of bands at BYU. He served in that position until 1966 when he became the director of orchestras, a position which he occupied until 1985.
During his time at BYU, Laycock was involved in several landmark projects personally, and also for the school. He had the opportunity to arrange music for the Oakland Temple Pageant, the Martin Harris Pageant. Laycock also created the concept for the simplified hymn book and did many of the arrangements contained in the first edition. He also was able to traveled with his band and orchestra students as they toured the United States, Canada and China.
His self-discipline and passion for music left a lasting impact on many of his students, including K. Newell Dayley, who later served as dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications.
Personal and Family Life
Laycock married Lucy Tanner in the Logan temple in 1942. Together they raised five daughters.
In 2006, Laycock was diagnosed with Leukemia. He passed away in April 2006 at the age of 86.
