Donald Lee Corbett

Dr. Donald L. Corbett passed away September 2, 2021, at the age of 90 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Don was born in Wichita, Kansas on August 16, 1931. He excelled in music, particularly the trumpet, and graduated from Wichita North High School in 1949. He earned both a Bachelor and Master of Music Education from Wichita State University, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Kansas. In his forty years of music education in Kansas, Don served as a band director in the Ashland, Haven, and Hutchinson public schools, before becoming a professor of music at Wichita State University. In 1995 he retired from WSU after 24 years and was honored by being named an Emeritus Professor of Music Education. Don loved teaching music and directing bands, and instilled a love of music in countless students, mentoring and influencing music across the United States and the world.

Don was known nationwide as a band director and was an in-demand clinician at music festivals, receiving numerous awards and honors in his career. He was elected president of Kansas Music Educators Association, president of the Southwestern Division of MENC, and ultimately president of MENC (a nationwide group of 60,000+ music teachers, now known as the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). In 1991 he became Executive Director of KMEA, a position he held for 11 years. He directed the Kansas Ambassadors of Music Bands on European tours for 15 years. He served on 12 national committees for the MENC, receiving 11 awards for distinguished service to his profession, and was inducted into both the Kansas Music Educators Hall of Fame along with the Kansas State High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

He married JoAnne Friend in 1954 in Wichita, Kansas. That same year they moved to California where he served in the Army (band) during the Korean War, and where their first child, Jan, was born. They moved to Ashland, Kansas in 1956, where their second child, Scott, was born. In 2012 Don and JoAnne moved to New Mexico from Wichita, Kansas. In retirement, he enjoyed golf, cheering for Kansas Jayhawk basketball, traveling, and taking his dog Paddy on daily walks.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank & Clara Corbett, and sister Francine. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, JoAnne, of Albuquerque; daughter, Jan Corbett Schubert and husband Kent of Albuquerque; son, Scott Corbett and wife Cindy of Westfield, Indiana; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Don will be buried in a private ceremony at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe New Mexico.