Lawrence Henry Moe, University of California-Berkeley Professor of Music and University Organist Emeritus, died in Oakland on September 14, at the age of 96. Born May 9, 1917, in Chicago, he became organist and choirmaster of his local church at age 15. He earned bachelor and master of music degrees from Northwestern and master of arts and doctor of philosophy degrees from Harvard. He taught at Central Washington College in Ellensburg, Washington, and Wellesley College, and was organist and choirmaster at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Boston, 1954–1957. Appointed to U.C. Berkeley in 1957, he served as Professor of Musicology and University Organist, was chairman of the music department for ten years, and co-designed the Young Musicians Program for disadvantaged youth; he retired in 1987 and was University Organist Emeritus. Moe was the recipient of many awards, including Fulbright awards to study in Europe, the Berkeley Citation for “Distinguished Achievement and Notable Service to the University,” and a Distinguished Teaching Award. In 2007 the organ gallery of Hertz Hall was named in his honor.
During his tenure Moe championed organ music and built a distinguished collection of organs for the university, which includes antique European organs and many new organs built in older styles. His fondness for Baroque music, from Bach and Frescobaldi to Buxtehude, was evident during his numerous concerts at Hertz Hall and across the state and nation, and in his many recordings made in both the U.S. and Europe.
Moe had been dean of the San Francisco AGO chapter and had served as organist for the San Francisco and Boston Symphonies. He served as consultant in the installation of organs throughout the Bay Area and on the U.C. campus, and influenced organ building on the West Coast.
Lawrence Moe is survived by his wife of 67 years, Georgiana, son Eric, daughter Charis Burke (Alex), and two grandchildren, Dillon Moreno and Brigitte Moreno.
