Vincent DeFrank

Vincent DeFrank (1915–1998) was an American conductor and cellist, founder of The Memphis Symphony (MSO). He was born in New York and studied violin from 1920 to 1933 before switching to a cello. DeFrank also attended the Juilliard School to study conducting in the late thirties and took advanced cello lessons from Fritz Magg at the Indiana University in 1950–52.

Before coming to Memphis, Vincent DeFrank served briefly as a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra during 1939–40 season. He was appointed a director of the Second Army Headquarters Band and played with the Memphis Open Air Theater Pit Orchestra, Memphis Concert Orchestra, and staff ensembles of WMPS and WMC radio stations. DeFrank was an adjunct member of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra from 1947 to 1950. Two years later, he returned to Memphis and established Memphis Sinfonietta, a precursor to the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

Conductor held a few honorary degrees and awards, including an ASCAP Award (1967), Outstanding Tennessean Award (1981), and a Doctorate of Music (1974) from Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College).