George Lynn

George Lynn (1915- 16 March 1989) was an American composer, conductor, pianist, organist, singer, and music educator. A longtime member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, his compositional output encompasses more than 200 orchestral and choral pieces; many of which have been performed by major American symphony orchestras like the Denver Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He taught on the music faculties of several prominent American colleges, notably conducting several university choirs. Throughout his life he was active as a conductor, organist, and pianist for various church and community choirs. [1]

Life and career

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Lynn was the son of immigrants from Sweden. He began working as a professional church organist in 1927 at the age of 12. He entered Westminster Choir College in 1934 where he earned a Bachelor of Music in 1938. Among his teachers were Paul Boepple (conducting), Roy Harris (composition), Carl Weinrich (organ), and John Finley Williamson (conducting). After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he entered the graduate music composition program at Princeton University where he was a pupil of Randall Thompson. He graduated from the school in 1947 with a Master of Fine Arts.[2]

While studying at Princeton, Lynn returned to Westminster Choir College as a faculty member, teaching classes in organ and conducting. He left there in 1950 to join the music faculty at the University of Colorado at Boulder where he conducted several choirs for two years. He then served as the organist/choirmaster of several prominent churches in Denver and taught piano, organ, and singing out of a private studio. He returned to Westminster in 1963 when he was appointed the college's music director, a post he held through 1969.[2]

In 1969 Lynn returned to Denver where he spent most of the rest of his life. From 1971 to 1986 he directed choirs and taught conducting at the Colorado School of Mines and at Loretto Heights College. He served as a professor of choral music at Rice University in 1986-1987, after which he lived in retirement in Colorado.[2] Among his notable students was bass Gregory Stapp. He died in Colorado Springs at the age of 73.[1]

References