Fred D. Hinger

He was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1986.

• Name — Fred D. Hinger • Born — 9 February 1920 • Birthplace — Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. • Died — 10 January 2001 • Place of death — Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. • Education — Eastman School of Music (BM) • Occupation — Timpanist, educator, instrument designer • Years Active — 1941–2001 • Employer — Philadelphia Orchestra Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Curtis Institute of Music • Known for — Principal timpanist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; founder of Hinger Touch-Tone Corporation

Hinger was born on February 9, 1920, in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, where he majored in music education and percussion, studying under percussionist William Street. While at Eastman, Hinger performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor José Iturbi. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1941.

After graduating from Eastman, Hinger served as percussionist and xylophone soloist with the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C. from 1942 to 1948.

In 1948, Hinger was invited to audition for the Philadelphia Orchestra and was appointed principal percussionist. In 1951, he accepted the orchestra's principal timpani position, which he held for 16 years until 1967.

In 1967, Hinger left the Philadelphia Orchestra to become principal timpanist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York City, a position he held until his retirement in 1983. He joined American Federation of Musicians Local 802 upon moving to New York in 1967.

Hinger was a prolific instrument designer and inventor. In the early 1960s, he registered the Hinger and Touch-Tone trademarks and founded the Hinger Touch-Tone Corporation, which manufactured timpani mallets and percussion equipment. His innovations included: • The rotating timpani bowl, which allows the player to change beating spots without disturbing the drumhead • Sliding weights on timpani and snare drum sticks, permitting the player to change the tonal color produced by the same mallet • The Space-Tone snare drum • The Pro-Custom 1 aluminum mallet handle with a patented adjustable weight system Between 1967 and 1970, Hinger handcrafted several drums in his apartment in Fort Lee, New Jersey. His mallet designs continue to be manufactured as the Fred Hinger Touch-Tone Timpani Series by Malletech.

Hinger died on January 10, 2001, in Huntsville, Alabama, at the age of 80. He was survived by his wife, Marjorie Jean, children William and Shirley, and six grandchildren.

Hinger is recorded as musician, timpanist, percussion teacher and designer.