Concert to celebrate life of transformative Music Department chair

Metropolitan State University of Denver will host a special evening of remembrance and music Saturday in honor of the late Hal Gordon Tamblyn, DMA, a former Music Department chair and a transformative figure in MSU Denver’s musical and academic history. The Dr. Hal Tamblyn Celebration of Life will take place at the King Center Recital Hall from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by a performance by the MSU Denver Music Festival Choir and Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. in the King Center Concert Hall. 

A legacy of leadership and dedication 

Tamblyn, who died last year, began his career at MSU Denver in 1971 as an associate professor of Music and was quickly recognized for his leadership and vision. Promoted to full professor with tenure in 1974, he went on to serve as chair of the Department of Music for 24 years, significantly shaping the department’s trajectory. Later, he served as coordinator of the arts and associate dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, retiring in 2008 after nearly four decades of service. 

Throughout his career, Tamblyn championed music education and the performing arts, distinguishing himself as a composer and arranger, jazz and classical musician, conductor, teacher and mentor. His commitment to excellence in the arts was recognized with the University’s Distinguished Service Award in 2000, the same year as the opening of the Kenneth King Center, a facility whose creation he deeply supported and influenced. 

Supporting future generations of musicians 

In addition to his remarkable professional legacy, Tamblyn’s passion for orchestral music lives on through the Dr. Hal Tamblyn Orchestra Program Fund, which he established to ensure that the University’s symphony orchestra could continue to flourish. The fund provides vital support for student-focused orchestral programming, including music, instruments, supplies, travel and professional development. 

All are welcome 

The celebration of life will not only honor the memory of a beloved educator and administrator but also serve as a call to the MSU Denver community — students, employees and alumni — to reflect on the power of the arts in education and to continue the work Tamblyn so fervently believed in. 

The evening’s events are open to the public. Attendees will gather first for personal reflections and remembrances, followed by a concert performance featuring some of the University’s finest musicians. It’s a fitting farewell to a man who dedicated his life to nurturing talent and inspiring generations.