Ernest Mead

Who was Ernest Mead?

Ernest Campbell Mead, Jr. was professor of music and former head of the McIntire Department of Music at the University of Virginia.

Born at Richmond in 1918, Mead was interested in music as a child, studying with the composer John Powell in Richmond. When he arrived at the University of Virginia, he brought with him a Steinway piano. While a student at the University, he was a member of the Virginia Glee Club. Mead graduated from the University of Virginia in 1940 with a major in music, German language and literature.

He went on to Harvard University to earn his Ph.D. Mead's musical research focused on instrumental ensembles; his doctoral dissertation focused on the instrumental works of Girolamo Frescobaldi. He returned to the University of Virginia in 1953 as a professor.

As chairman of the McIntire School of Music in the University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences, Mead was instrumental in securing donations to establish the U.Va. Music Library. He also worked with University professor Walter Ross to re-establish a University orchestra in 1967, now called the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra.