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Nunc Dimittis

February 8, 2003
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Fred Haley died suddenly at the age of 67 on September 14, 2002, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. An organist since age 15, he received his musical education at Westminster Choir College, where his teachers included Julius Herford, Alexander McCurdy, and John Finley Williamson. He pursued postgraduate study at Syracuse University with Arthur Poister and at the University of Oklahoma with Mildred Andrews. In 1957 he was appointed assistant conductor of the Westminster Choir for its world tour of that year, conducting the choir in concerts in some 25 countries in Asia and Eastern Europe. In 1959 he became organist and associate director of music at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City, a position he held for over 25 years. Subsequently he was organist at Central Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City, until his retirement in 1999. An active member of the AGO and the Fellowship of United Methodist Musicians (formerly NUFOMM), Mr. Haley frequently performed at the regional and national meetings of these organizations.

 

Melvin E. Rotermund, a second-generation lifelong church musician, died from cancer on October 18, 2002, at his home in Aurora, Illinois. Prior to retiring from his 31-year tenure as minister of music at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Park Ridge, Illinois, in 1999, he had served at St. John Lutheran Church in Decatur, Illinois, and Zion Lutheran Church, Chicago, as director of music and Christian Day School teacher. From early in 2000 until just four months before his death, he regularly assisted Lutheran churches in the north Chicago area and the western suburbs as interim organist, sometimes serving several parishes on the same weekend. Mr. Rotermund earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois, and was one of the initial four graduates to receive the first Master's degrees conferred by the school in 1959. His published compositions, many of which were written to serve his parishes, included psalm settings, a full three-year cycle of Psalm antiphons, many hymn-based organ preludes, arrangements for organ and instruments, choral anthems, and a collection for handbells. He was a respected teacher and frequent church music workshop presenter, supervised student teachers from Concordia, and was a member of parish day school evaluation teams. His memorial service was held on October 22 at St. Andrew's Church, Park Ridge, Illinois, for which Dr. Paul Bouman, mentor and friend, served as organist and choirmaster. The service was preceded by a 15-minute musical offering that consisted of hymn preludes by Melvin Rotermund and i>Orgelbüchlein settings. On Sunday, October 20, two musical tributes were presented. In the afternoon a hymn festival was led by David Christiansen at St. Andrew's Church.  Later in the day, the opening concert at Concordia's church music conference featured the Duruflé Requiem.

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