Phyllis J. Stringham, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, died February 12 at the age of
79.
Born January 30, 1931 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she earned her Bachelor
of Arts degree from Calvin College and a Master of Music degree in organ
performance at the University of Michigan. Her organ teachers included John
Hamersma, Robert Noehren, and Marilyn Mason.
She pursued additional study at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France, studying with Nadia Boulanger and André Marchal. In 1966 she studied with Marie-Claire Alain and
Anton Heiller at the Summer Academy for Organists in Haarlem, Holland. While on sabbatical leave in 1972, she spent five months studying at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, Austria. Further study was done at the Eastman School of Music with Russell Saunders, and with Delbert Disselhorst
at the University of Iowa.
For 43 years, Stringham was Professor of Music and College Organist at
Carroll University, Waukesha, Wisconsin (1959–2002). After retirement from
teaching, she retained her position as College Organist and Curator of the
Organ. In 2007 she was named Organist Emeritus. Her earlier teaching career
began at Chatham Hall, an Episcopal school in Virginia.
She is listed in Who’s Who in the World of Music.
From the late 1960s to 2007 she operated the Phyllis Stringham Concert Management agency. She served the AGO as dean of the Milwaukee chapter and as Wisconsin State Chair.
Phyllis Stringham is survived by her brother James A. (Gladys), nephews,many grandnephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. A memorial service was held February 18 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Waukesha.
March 15, 2010
THE DIAPASON
