William Ashbrook

Who was William Ashbrook?

William Ashbrook was an American musicologist, writer, journalist, and academic. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his education including a BA in English literature from the University of Pennsylvania in 1946 and a MA in musicology from Harvard University in 1947. Ashbrook began an academic career by teaching humanities and then, for nearly twenty years, was a member of the English Department at Indiana State University at Terre Haute, from which he retired in 1974 as Distinguished Professor Emeritus. From 1974 to 1984 he was professor of opera at the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts.

However, opera studies were his lifelong passions, especially the life and operas of 19th Century Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. One result was that "the town of Bergamo, inspired by the local Donizetti Foundation, did itself proud by proclaiming him an honorary citizen of Donizetti's birthplace." William Ashbrook died in Denver, Colorado at the age of 87.