The Founder and Director
Robert B. French, a native Kentuckian, received
his Bachelor of
Music degree in organ from the University of Louisville. He then attended the
George Peabody
College for Teachers of Vanderbilt University where he studied composition under
the American composer, Roy Harris and received his Master of Music degree in
1951.
In 1954 he co-founded the Louisville Academy of Music. French also co-founded the Louisville Youth Orchestra in 1958 and served as its manager until 1960.
Over the years he built the Academy library to a total of over 8,000 books and 16,000 recordings. His avid interest in history led to research on past and present organizations and musicians connected to Louisville. He has authored 21 articles for the Encyclopedia of Louisville and 3 for the Kentucky Encyclopedia.
In 1983 he was awarded the University of Louisville Alumni Association Service Award and in 1998 the Distinguished Alumnus Award. He was elected to the Male High School Hall of Fame in 1996 and he received a Louisville Preservation Award in 2000.
His highest honor came in 1999 when he was presented the Milner Award for "Highest Contribution to the Arts" by the Governor of Kentucky.
Robert French continues to direct the school with the assistance of his wife, Ruth S. French.