OBIT MUSICIANmilestones 2008

Topic: MILESTONES Jun - Dec 07
The American operatic tenor Jerry Hadley, noted for his bright lyric voice, lively acting and adventurous choice of repertory, died today in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He was 55. ...MORE from NY Times

Topic: MILESTONES Jun - Dec 07

LINK to MUSICIANSmilestones obituaries for June to December 2007

Topic: Donald Johanos

Donald Johanos, 79, who for 15 years served as conductor and music director of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, died May 29 in Naples, Fla. He had been ill for some time, according to his son-in-law DJ McDonald. Johanos is survived by his wife, Jane, three daughters and a son.

...obit

In 1962 Donald Johanos was appointed music director and principal conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and in 1970 he became associate conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. His guest conducting engagements include the Mostly Mozart Festival in New York, Lisbon's Golden Festival, the Paris Opèra and performances with orchestras including the Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago and the National Symphony. His international appearances have included Amsterdam, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong and Mexico and his recording of Glière's Symphony No.3 in B Minor, Op. 42 with the Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava) is also available on the Marco Polo label.

JOHANOS@Barnes and Noble - CDs availabie

Composer David Farquhar has died after a long illness. He was 79.
Topic: David Farquhar
He began composing music when he was aged 11, and later studied composition at Canterbury and Victoria University Colleges and privately with Douglas Lilburn. Professor Farquhar spent his working life at Victoria University's School of Music. In 1953, he began an important association with the New Zealand Players theatre group. His work for them included the popular dances for Ring Round the Moon and the much-lauded opera A Unicorn for Christmas. He retired from the position of Professor of Music at the end of 1993. Professor Farquhar told his students that "music should entertain". He was regarded as a highly accomplished craftsman able to express effectively his originality and his musical ideas in any medium. A university colleague, Jack Body, described his work as having the defining characteristics of clarity of expression, lightness of touch, and a perennial youthfulness. Professor Farquhar's first wife, Raydia d'Elsa, well-known as an actor, painter, sculptor and poet, died in 2001. He is survived by his children, Julian and Kate, and second wife, Marjorie Nees.

BIOGRAPHY

Mstislav Rostropovich, cellist, conductor dies
Topic: Mstislav Rostropovich

Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich (March 27, 1927 – April 27, 2007) affectionately known as "Slava," Russian cellist and conductor considered to be one of the greatest cellists ever. He was well known for his interpretations of Dvorak's B minor cello concerto and Haydn's cello concertos in C and D, and for his commissions of new works which have considerably enlarged the cello repertoire (notably by Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Britten, Lutoslawski, Penderecki and Dutilleux).

Rostropovich was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, then part of the Soviet Union. From 1943 to 1948, he studied at the Moscow Conservatory, where he became professor of cello in 1956.

Rostropovich died on April 27, 2007 in Moscow, Russia after having been hospitalized in February of the same year for intestinal cancer.
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BIOGRAPHY

The Mission of the Vishnevskaya-Rostropovich Foundation (VRF) is to improve the health care of children in the Russian Federation. | LINKS

ROSTROPOVICH on CD | Books about Rostropovich | Compact Disc Audio | Rostropovich on DVD

Robert Ehrhardt, Shreveport composer, conductor and organist, died after a brief illness. He was 61.
Topic: Robert Ehrhardt
Shreveport organist, conductor dies

Ehrhardt was in first grade when he came to the attention of John Shenaut, former conductor of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. ...
See all stories on this topic | Shreveport Times - Shreveport,LA,USA

Mimi Lerner: 1945 - 2007
Now Playing: Internationally known mezzo-soprano

Mimi Lerner, an internationally renowned mezzo-soprano and educator who came to the operatic stage late in life, has died [29 MAR 2007] in Pittsburgh. She was 61. ...

See all stories on this topic | Chicago Tribune - Chicago,IL,USA | PlayBill Arts

Topic: Walter Hendl

Walter Hendl, former director of the Eastman School of Music, died Tuesday [10 APR 2007] at his home in Erie, Pa. He was 90 years old and suffered from heart and lung disease.

Mr. Hendl headed the Eastman School from 1964 to 1972, spearheading many new programs and championing contemporary music. But his strongest legacy was as a conductor — one of the foremost of the mid-20th century. He performed around the world with leading soloists such as Vladimir Horowitz, Jascha Heifetz and Kirsten Flagstad. ...more | BIOGRAPHY

James Dixon - Former UI orchestra conductor dies
Topic: James Dixon

JAMES DIXON was conductor of the University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra for 40 years, retiring in 1997. He also served as a music director and conductor of the Quad Cities Orchestra...

See all stories on this topic | Longtime UI conductor dies

Iowa City Press Citizen - Iowa City,IA,USA Longtime University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra conductor James Dixon died Tuesday, 3 April 2007, due to complication from influenza. He was 78.

See all stories on this topic | ...more