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Nunc Dimittis

January 18, 2003
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William Ferris, composer, conductor, and organist, died on May 16 in Chicago, Illinois, from a massive heart attack. He was 63 years old.

 

Founder and director of the William Ferris Chorale, he died during a rehearsal with the chorale of the Verdi Requiem, which was to be performed in concert on Friday, May 19. The chorus had been singing the final section, "Libera me," when Ferris faltered, fell backward, and was helped to the floor. One of the choristers who is a physician administered CPR, but Ferris was never revived. Born in Chicago on February 26, 1937, he attended DePaul University, studying composition with Alexander Tcherepnin and organ with Arthur C. Becker. Between 1957 and 1962 he studied composition privately with Leo Sowerby. Ferris was organist at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago from 1954-58 and 1962-64, he taught at the American Conservatory of Music from 1973-83, when he resigned to become composer-in-residence and director of music at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in the Lakeview neighborhood. He also served as director of music at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester, NY from 1966-71. Ferris composed more than 500 works, including two operas, a dozen orchestral works, 15 chamber pieces, and well over 60 choral compositions. In 1960 he founded the William Ferris Chorale, specializing in works of 20th-century composers and often bringing them to Chicago for festival concerts of their music. Albany records has recently released a CD of Angels, an oratorio Ferris wrote and presented with his chorale in 1998. In 1992 Northwestern University established the William Ferris Archive, which contains his compositions, preliminary sketches, correspondence, and memorabilia.

 

Lester H. Groom died on March 28 in Seattle, Washington, at the age of 71. He received his early keyboard training from both of his parents, and later his father became his major professor in organ and composition at Wheaton College (Illinois), where he received the BMus in 1951. He earned the MMus in organ from Northwestern University in 1952, the Associate certificate of the AGO in 1954, and did further study with Stella Roberts at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Mr. Groom held teaching positions at Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Blue Mountain College (Mississippi), and Baker University (Kansas). He joined the faculty of Seattle Pacific University in 1969, where he taught organ, harpsichord, music theory and composition. He retired from SPU in 1991 and was named Professor Emeritus the following year. Throughout his career he held positions as a church organist and choir director. He served as organist of First Presbyterian Church, Seattle, from 1979 until his retirement in 1996. Groom’s published works include organ and choral compositions, articles and music reviews. He was a specialist in the art of improvisation and often featured free improvisations in his organ recitals throughout the country. He was a frequent lecturer at church music workshops. For 13 summers he served on the faculty of the Evergreen Conference of Church Music, Evergreen, Colorado, and was conference president from 1972-77. He was active in the AGO throughout his career, most recently serving as regional Education Coordinator, and he prepared the study guide for the AGO Service Playing Certificate. A memorial service was held at First Presbyterian Church, Seattle, on April 4.

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