4 Mar 1932 – 8 Jan 2008
2nd Great-grandson of Philip Cardon and Martha Marie Tourn
Great-grandson of Louis Philip Cardon and Susette Stalé
Grandson of Joseph Samuel Cardon and Rhoda Ann McClellan
Son of William Afton Cardon Sr. and Hettie Tenney
Dr. Hugh Frederick Cardon, 75, joined our Lord on January 8, 2008. Born in Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico on March 4, 1932, his family moved to El Paso in 1933.
After receiving a Bachelor of Music from Texas Western College in 1953, he joined the Army, played clarinet in the Army Band, and graduated from The Navy School of Music in Washington, D.C. Upon being discharged from the Army, he received a Master of Arts in 1957 from TWC. To further his singing career, he studied voice, opera and Italian in Italy until 1958.
After returning to El Paso, he was employed by EPISD for 5 years and taught at Bowie and El Paso High Schools. His long career with UTEP began in 1963 when he became conductor of the Collegiate Chorale. In 1970, he received his DMA at the University of Oregon. Since 1972, he taught studio and voice classes, vocal pedagogy and choral conducting. He was an exceptional voice teacher and was dedicated to his students who subsequently performed all over the world.
He pioneered uniquely Hispanic activities such as his classes “Music of Mexico” and “Music on the Border” and was the creator of “Zarzuela El Paso” and the Hispanic Music Showcase.
He also served as Director of the Vocal Music Division of the Music Department at UTEP from 1972 to 2005. Dr. Cardon was nationally and internationally acclaimed for his expertise in Hispanic Music. He made numerous tours giving lecture recitals in the United States and Mexico including one in Mexico sponsored by the United States State Department.
Highlights of his performing career included leading roles in over 25 operas, 12 performances with the El Paso Symphony and many other events too numerous to list. He also served as Governor of the Great Plains District of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) for 5 years. In 1998, he received the “Image Award” from the El Paso Association for the Performing Arts. In 2007, he was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by the UTEP Department of Music. He retired from UTEP in August, 2007 as Professor Emeritus.
During his undergraduate years, he played basketball for the TWC Miners. He was passionate for the sport and, in particular, for the Miners. This led to him singing the National Anthem for numerous Miner basketball games.
Dr. Cardon was a charter member of the Santa Teresa Country Club and was an avid golfer. He will be missed by his wife, Virginia, daughter Alice P. Cardon, son Hugh T. “Clutch” Cardon, brothers Thomas D. Cardon and William A. Cardon, as well as numerous other family members, students, colleagues and friends. He was preceded in death by his brother Donald C. Cardon.
Viewing will be on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at Hillcrest Funeral Home, 5054 Doniphan Drive from 5-9 p.m. Funeral Services will be on January 16, 2008 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 400 Rosemont at 9:15 a.m.
Interment will follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the Dr. Hugh Cardon Memorial Endowed Music Scholarship with checks made payable to UTEP and mailed to the Office of Institutional Advancement, 1100 N. Stanton, St 201, El Paso, TX 79902.
Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, Plot: Section DD ~ Site:12
