MSU mourns death of Professor L. Curtis Hammond

Morehead State Associate Professor of Music Dr. L. Curtis “Curt” Hammond passed away on Thursday, Feb. 27, at Baptist Health in Lexington. 

Born May 23, 1962, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he is the son of Larry Clinton and Joan Marie Huls Hammond of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In addition to his parents, he is survived by two daughters, Abby Hammond and Meghan Hammond, both of Morehead, and their mother, Cathy Hammond of Morehead. 

Other survivors include one brother, Robert “Bob” Hammond of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; one sister, Pammy Bates of Estelline, South Dakota; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. 

Hammond taught in the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at MSU since 1993. He received the Doctor of Music degree from Florida State University, the Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Nebraska. In addition to teaching horn at Morehead State, Hammond also taught graduate courses and courses in music theory, sight singing, and music listening. He conducted the MSU Horn Ensemble and was a member of the MSU Faculty Woodwind Quintet, The Baird Winds, and the MSU Faculty Brass Quintet, the Horizon Brass Quintet. 

He has performed in the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, The New Sousa Band, New Colombia Brass Band, Florida Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony, Albany (GA) Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Youngstown Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, and the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra.  

Hammond has also performed with numerous musicians including Barry Tuckwell, The American Horn Quartet, Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma, Andre Watts, Anna Moffo, Nadia Salerno-Sonnenberg, Richard Stoltzman, George Shearing, Dave Brubeck, Billy Taylor, Charlton Heston, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, Peabo Bryson, Aaron Neville, Melissa Manchester, Sheena Easton, Roberta Flack, and LeAnn Rimes.  

He was a deacon at the First Christian Church and board member and performer with the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra. He was an H. O. train collector and loved all things trains. He also loved to play golf, was passionate about watching his girls play sports, bonding with family over the Minnesota Vikings, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and, frankly, all sports. He enjoyed traveling to Lake Poinsett, South Dakota, with family to spend time with his South Dakota family and friends; relaxing and walking and feeding the birds while enjoying a cup of coffee; all things music (even a Jonas Brothers concert); and lastly, “whipping it up in the kitchen.”  

A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at Morehead First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with the Rev. Donald Chase officiating.  
 
Pallbearers include Tyler Sullivan, John Johnson, David Oyen, Brian Mason, Anthony Nolan, Aaron Bates, Scott Bates, and Joshua Bates. All former and current students and co-workers will serve as honorary pallbearers. 

Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals, 400 Fraley Drive Morehead, KY 40351, and on Saturday, Feb. 29, from noon to 2 p.m. at Morehead First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 227 East Main Street, Morehead, KY 40351. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Dr. L. Curtis Hammond Music Scholarship Fund, MSU Foundation, 150 University Blvd., P.O. Box 1887, Morehead, KY 40351.