Alexander Lepak

Alexander Lepak was a percussionist, conductor, and music educator who, during a sabbatical from the Hartt School and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, performed music for the soundtrack of. During this sabbatical, he also performed for the 1979 comedy film The Jerk, as well as a number of television projects, including the 1980 mini-series Shogun. 

Lepak played percussion and timpani with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra for 56 years. He also lectured in theory and percussion at his alma mater, The Hartt School in West Hartford, Connecticut. In 1950, he founded the Hartt School percussion ensemble, and in 1955, he founded the Hartt Concert Jazz Band, which he also conducted. He has authored several theories and methods, as well, notably the "Friese-Lepak Timpani Method".

He retired from The Hartt School in 1991, and retired from the Hartford Symphony in June 2003. In 1997, he was elected to the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame. He died in Windsor, Connecticut, following a battle with throat cancer. He was 88 years old.