Seminal conductor
Frederic Balazs
Frederic Balazs, conductor of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra from 1952 to 1966, transformed a volunteer ensemble into a professional orchestra of regional stature.
Frederic Balazs and Tucson Symphony Orchestra in 1952
Frederic Balazs led the Tucson Symphony Orchestra during it’s 25th anniversary concert in 1952. Balazs helped transform TSO from a small community group to a artistically accomplished ensemble.
Fred Balazs
Fred Balazs was the first full-time conductor for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra from 1952-1966. On Dec. 12 he will turn 98 years old. He spends his days reading and writing is memoir at Sierra Del Sol Memory Care. He uses a manual typewriter. November 30, 2017
Frederic Balazs
Frederic Balazs continued to travel the globe as a guest conductor into his 90s. He died Saturday in Tucson.
Services set
Services for Frederic Balazs will include full military honors.
Voracious reader
Before his health started to fail, Frederic Balazs spent hours reading at the kitchen table of his foothills condo. He moved into Sierra del Sol memory care in spring 2017. He read thick biographies and history books.
Fred Balazs
Frederic Balazs, 98, sits down for lunch at Sierra Del Sol Memory Care.
Fred Balazs
Balazs has been typing his memoirs on an old Royal typewriter, although his work has stopped.
Frederic Balazs
Balazs, right, plays to a crowd in Budapest in 1938. His father bought Balazs his first violin.
TSO kicks off 90th season in September.