William Ashbrook (January 28, 1922 – March 31, 2009) was an American musicologist, writer, journalist, and academic.
He was perhaps best noted as a historian, researcher and popularizer of the works of Italian opera composer Gaetano Donizetti.
[1] Ashbrook began an academic career by teaching humanities and then, for nearly twenty years, was a member of the English Department at Indiana State University at Terre Haute.
In reference to his pioneering work in opera scholarship, musicologist Philip Gossett described him as "the father of us all"[1] and his scholarly publications in the field of music far overshadowed his contributions in other areas.
[1] Ashbrook was also a regular contributor to several classical music journals, magazines, and other publications, including Opera News, Opera, Donizetti Society Journal and the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.