Arthur A. Sweet, a founding director of the Chicago Youth Symphony and the band director at Wheaton Central High School for 29 years, died Thursday in his home. A 55-year Wheaton resident, Mr. Sweet was 84.
Born in Spring Valley, Ill., Mr. Sweet attended the University of Illinois and received his music degree from Sherwood Music School of Chicago. He earned his master’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington and continued his graduate work at Wayne State University in Detroit, at the American Conservatory in Chicago, Northwestern University in Evanston, and Western Illinois University in Macomb.
“He began college wanting to study chemistry, but it was the music that just kept coming back to him,” said his wife, K. Jean. “It didn’t take long for him to realize that it was what he was destined to do.”
From a young age, Mr. Sweet played the clarinet and saxophone in school bands and performed at recitals. His father played the clarinet in society orchestras for weddings and other events.
“I think his father was one of his biggest influences,” said his wife. “He grew up watching his father and wanting to follow in his footsteps.”
During the late 1940s, Mr. Sweet helped in the formation of the Chicago Youth Symphony, for which he coached the woodwind section.
“He was constantly driving back and forth from Wheaton to the North Shore during those years for rehearsals and performances,” said his wife. “It wasn’t easy, but he loved what he was doing.”
Mr. Sweet was the Wheaton Municipal Band director for 17 years and choir director at the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton for many years. He was also the band director at Wheaton Central High School from 1944 to 1973.
“He loved to perform, but his real passion was for directing,” said his wife. “He found great joy in interpreting music for the way in which it was written.”
Other survivors include two daughters, Carol Seidel and Holly Podgorny; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Williams-Kampp Funeral Home, 430 E. Roosevelt Rd., Wheaton.
