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January 11, 2013

Donald E. McMahel

82; of New Albany

newsroom@newsandtribune.com

Funeral services for Donald E. McMahel, 82, of New Albany, will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 14, at Seabrook Dieckmann & Naville Funeral Homes, Market Street Chapel, New Albany, with private burial in Kraft-Graceland Memorial Park, New Albany. He died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at his home.

He received his master’s degree from the Indiana University School of Music and was Principal Clarinetist with the IU Symphonic Band, the IU Philharmonic Orchestra and IU Opera Orchestra. He worked for the New Albany-Floyd County School Corporation from 1959 until 1993, where he taught band at Hazelwood Junior High, several elementary schools and music theory at NAHS. He performed professionally with the Louisville Orchestra, Corpus Christi Symphony, Kentucky Opera and local jazz bands. He and Rubin Sher co-founded and co-directed the Southern Indiana Orchestra and the Floyd County Youth Symphony.

In 1963 he became Indiana University Southeast’s first music instructor. In 1997, he and James Poteet, a former student of his, started the IU Southeast Concert Band. In 1998, Don became Director and continued in that role until his death. He received the Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award for teaching in 1975; the Lifetime Arts Achievement Award from the Arts Council of Southern Indiana in 2005; and in October, he was the recipient of the 2012 Chancellor’s Medallion Award from Indiana University Southeast.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Hadley McMahel; daughter, Donna McMahel Klinglesmith and her husband, Robert; and granddaughter,    Ren`e McMahel Lynch, all of New Albany.

He was preceded in death by his son, Brian K. McMahel in 2004

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to IUS Foundation/ Concert Band , Hosparus of Southern Indiana, or the NAFC Animal Rescue League.

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