{{Short description|American timpanist, educator, and instrument designer (1920–2001)}} {{use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Fred D. Hinger | birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|2|9}} | birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2001|1|10|1920|2|9}} | death_place = Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. | education = Eastman School of Music (BM) | occupation = Timpanist, educator, instrument designer | years_active = 1941–2001 | employer = Philadelphia Orchestra<br>Metropolitan Opera Orchestra<br>Curtis Institute of Music | known_for = Principal timpanist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; founder of Hinger Touch-Tone Corporation }} '''Fred D. Hinger''' (February 9, 1920 – January 10, 2001) was an American timpanist, percussion educator, and instrument designer. He held the principal timpani chairs of two of the world's leading orchestras—the Philadelphia Orchestra (1951–1967) and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (1967–1983)—and was a longtime faculty member at the Curtis Institute of Music.<ref name="pas">{{cite web |title=Fred D. Hinger |url=https://pas.org/fred-d-hinger/ |website=Percussive Arts Society |access-date=February 19, 2026}}</ref><ref name="local802">{{cite web |title=Requiem |url=https://www.local802afm.org/allegro/articles/requiem-26/ |website=Local 802 AFM |access-date=February 19, 2026}}</ref> Hinger was recognized internationally as an authority on timpani performance and instrument design, and his innovations—including the rotating timpani bowl and sliding-weight mallet system—influenced orchestral percussion practice worldwide.<ref name="olympicbio">{{cite web |title=Meet the Man Behind the Hinger Collection |url=https://www.olympicdrums.com/drumbeat/meet-the-man-behind-the-hinger-collection |website=Olympic Drums |access-date=February 19, 2026}}</ref> He was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1986.<ref name="pas"/>

== Early life and education == Hinger was born on February 9, 1920, in Cleveland, Ohio.<ref name="perctek">{{cite web |title=Hinger, Fred D. |url=http://www.perctek.com/index.php?title=Hinger,_Fred_D. |website=TEK Percussion Database |access-date=February 19, 2026}}</ref> 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.<ref name="malletech">{{cite web |title=Fred Hinger |url=https://malletech.com/artist/fred-hinger/ |website=Malletech |access-date=February 19, 2026}}</ref> While at Eastman, Hinger performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor José Iturbi.<ref name="malletech"/> He received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1941.<ref name="pas"/>

== Career ==

=== United States Navy Band === 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.<ref name="pas"/><ref name="malletech"/>

=== Philadelphia Orchestra === In 1948, Hinger was invited to audition for the Philadelphia Orchestra and was appointed principal percussionist.<ref name="malletech"/> In 1951, he accepted the orchestra's principal timpani position, which he held for 16 years until 1967.<ref name="pas"/><ref name="local802"/>

=== Metropolitan Opera Orchestra === 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.<ref name="pas"/><ref name="local802"/> He joined American Federation of Musicians Local 802 upon moving to New York in 1967.<ref name="local802"/>

== Teaching == Hinger taught at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia for approximately 15 years during his tenure with the Philadelphia Orchestra.<ref name="curtis">{{cite web |title=Legacy of Timpani and Percussion |url=https://www.curtis.edu/about/history/legacy-of-timpani-and-percussion/ |website=Curtis Institute of Music |access-date=February 19, 2026}}</ref> He also held teaching positions at the Manhattan School of Music and the Yale School of Music.<ref name="local802"/><ref name="pas"/>

Hinger maintained a private teaching studio at his home in Leonia, New Jersey.<ref name="kettledrummer">{{cite web |title=Fred D Hinger: Reflections on a Great Musician |url=https://www.kettledrummer.com/?p=1142 |website=Kettledrummer.com |access-date=February 19, 2026}}</ref>

== Instrument design and innovations == 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.<ref name="olympicinnovation">{{cite web |title=Hinger Touch-Tone, A Company of Innovation |url=https://www.olympicdrums.com/drumbeat/hinger-touch-tone-a-company-of-innovation |website=Olympic Drums |access-date=February 19, 2026}}</ref>

His innovations included: * The '''rotating timpani bowl''', which allows the player to change beating spots without disturbing the drumhead<ref name="olympicinnovation"/> * '''Sliding weights''' on timpani and snare drum sticks, permitting the player to change the tonal color produced by the same mallet<ref name="olympicinnovation"/> * The '''Space-Tone snare drum'''<ref name="olympicbio"/> * The '''Pro-Custom 1''' aluminum mallet handle with a patented adjustable weight system<ref name="olympicinnovation"/>

Between 1967 and 1970, Hinger handcrafted several drums in his apartment in Fort Lee, New Jersey.<ref name="kettledrummer"/> His mallet designs continue to be manufactured as the Fred Hinger Touch-Tone Timpani Series by Malletech.<ref name="malletech"/>

== Publications == Hinger authored instructional works that became standard references in the field of timpani performance: * ''Technique for the Virtuoso Timpanist'' (1981), published by Jerona Music Corporation<ref name="perctek"/> * ''Solos for the Virtuoso Timpanist'', a collection of advanced solo works for timpani<ref name="steveweiss">{{cite web |title=Solos for the Virtuoso Timpanist by Fred D. Hinger |url=https://www.steveweissmusic.com/product/solos-for-the-virtuoso-timpanist-fred-hinger/timpani-books |website=Steve Weiss Music |access-date=February 19, 2026}}</ref>

== Awards and honors == * Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame, inducted 1986<ref name="pas"/>

== Personal life and death == Hinger died on January 10, 2001, in Huntsville, Alabama, at the age of 80.<ref name="local802"/> He was survived by his wife, Marjorie Jean, children William and Shirley, and six grandchildren.<ref name="local802"/>

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

== External links == * [https://pas.org/fred-d-hinger/ Fred D. Hinger] at the Percussive Arts Society * [https://malletech.com/artist/fred-hinger/ Fred Hinger] at Malletech

{{Portal bar|Biography|Classical music}} {{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hinger, Fred D.}} Category:1920 births Category:2001 deaths Category:American timpanists Category:American percussionists Category:Eastman School of Music alumni Category:Curtis Institute of Music faculty Category:Manhattan School of Music faculty Category:Yale School of Music faculty Category:Players of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Category:Musicians from Cleveland Category:United States Navy Band musicians Category:Musical instrument makers