Hugh Dana Gibson

Hugh Dana Gibson

Age 96, a gifted musician, visual artist, and educator, passed away peacefully in Edmond, Oklahoma, on July 10, 2025, leaving behind a profound legacy in both the arts and music communities. Born in 1929 in Stillwater, Hugh was surrounded by music from an early age.The youngest of six children,Hugh followed in the footsteps of four of his older siblings, all of whom were professional musicians. He began studying violin at age 9 and went on to pursue a life rich in creativity and performance.Hugh earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Oklahoma in 1951 while also playing violin with the Oklahoma City Symphony for four seasons. He continued his studies on a graduate fellowship, receiving his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana.From 1952 to 1954, Hugh served in the military with the U.S. 7th Army Symphony, touring Germany and Austria and visiting museums across Italy, France, Holland, Belgium, and England in his free time. This period marked the beginning of his lifelong fusion of musical and artistic pursuits.Throughout his remarkable career, Hugh performed with many distinguished ensembles, including the San Antonio Symphony, New Orleans Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony, Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, and Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. He was also a beloved guest faculty member at the Taos School of Music in 1970.Alongside his musical accomplishments, Hugh was also involved in the visual arts as a prolific painter and an avid supporter of arts organizations. He held solo and group exhibits in galleries and museums across Texas and New Mexico, including the Witte Museum in San Antonio, the West Texas Museum in Lubbock, the Louisiana Gallery in Houston, and the Joya de Taos Gallery. He received several honors for his visual work, including juror prizes and residencies at prestigious institutions such as the Mac Dowell Colony and Helene Wurlitzer Foundation. A retrospect of his works, "A Musician Paints," was shown at the TCA's Encore Gallery in Taos in 2014.In 1993, after retiring from the Houston Symphony, Hugh moved to Taos, New Mexico, where he immersed himself in the local arts scene. He performed with the Taos Chamber Music Group and the San Juan Symphony and helped co-found Soundscapes Chamber Music Concerts in Taos and Angel Fire in 2002. From 2003 to 2014, he served as the principal violist of the Roswell Symphony in Roswell, New Mexico.He is survived by 11 nieces and nephews, as well as many friends. The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the friends that helped Hugh during his time in Taos, New Mexico. This includes Bob Batterton, Michael Burney, Barbara Scott, Bette Myerson, Marc Gonzales, Johnny and Christine Valerio, and Lorra Newton. With their deepest gratitude, the family would also like to thank Good Shepherd Hospice, for without their care, Hugh would not have survived the last two years.He is preceded in death by his parents, Oscar Lee Gibson and Ora Rachel Gibson, and five siblings.Hugh Dana Gibson will be remembered not only for his extraordinary talent and tireless dedication to his art, but also for the inspiration and joy he brought to those around him. His contributions to both music and painting will live on in the communities he touched and in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him.No services are scheduled at this time.