Former BYU music professor Ralph George Laycock, whom Maestro Maurice Abravanel called his "utility in-fielder," died Tuesday in Provo at the age of 86.
Mr. Laycock performed with the Utah Symphony during the 1948-49 season and was known for his ability to play seven separate instruments. After teaching woodwinds at Drake University, Mr. Laycock taught concert band, philharmonic orchestra and chamber orchestra at Brigham Young University. He toured with BYU students throughout the United States, Canada and China. He also wrote numerous arrangements for bands, orchestras and choral groups, including the Oakland Temple Pageant, the Martin Harris Pageant in northern Utah and arrangements for the first edition of the "Simplified Hymns."
Born in Alberta, Canada, on Feb. 11, 1920, Mr. Laycock organized his own dance band at 12 and later served in the Royal Canadian Air Force Concert Band during World War II. In 1942 he graduated from Brigham Young University and in 1948 earned a masters degree in orchestral conducting from the Juilliard School of Music. He later completed his doctorate at the University of Southern California in 1969. He started at BYU as director of bands in 1953. From the fall of 1966 until his retirement in 1985, he was director of orchestras at BYU.
He was married to Lucy Tanner Laycock for 63 years and had four children, 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Utah Valley audiences were familiar with his concerts with the Utah Valley Symphony, concerts in the park with the Provo Municipal Band and his direction of numerous musicals, operas, oratorios, ballets and Messiah sing-ins.
Services will be held 10 a.m. Monday at the Edgemont Stake chapel, 303 W. 3700 North, Provo. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 S. State St., Orem, and from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the chapel Monday.