William Bernard MacGowan is an internationally known concert organist, choir director, and college professor. His obituary was published in the Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, FL on 17 January 2010. Obituary transcription by Cousins by the Dozens below:
MacGOWAN - William Bernard MacGowan (Bill), internationally known American concert organist, choir director, and college professor, passed away peacefully, December 15, 2009 at Oak Hammock in Gainesville, FL.
He was the oldest of three sons born to William Leroy and Kate Byrd MacGowan in Jacksonville, FL. Bill fell in love with the organ as a choir boy at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, under the direction of Nelson Brett, his first organ teacher. A graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in 1943, he attended the Univ. of Michigan, earning his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music. He studied under Palmer Christian, Robert Nohren and Maynard Klein. Family members spent the summers of 1940 - 1946 at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. In an atmosphere dedicated to the love of music, the musician inside of Bill took root and flourished. He studied organ under Robert Baker and piano under Percy Granger.
A Naval communications officer aboard the USS Kearsarge, Oriskany, and Yorktown during the Korean War, he established choirs and singing groups on each ship. When in port, he studied conducting with Robert Shaw, and musicology with Julius Herford. After his Navy service, he held positions with Old North Church in Boston and the Boston Chamber Players; St. Philips Church in Durham, NC; Durham Theater Guild; Maple Street Congregational Church in Danvers, MA; Trinity Episcopal Church; Christian Reformed Choral Society and the Tanglewood Music Center.
In 1962 he became music director/organist at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, CA; made national appearances on NBC TV in Los Angeles and taught in the Humanities Dept. at Cal Tech. In 1971, he took a position with Bethesda By the Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, FL. While at Bethesda, his choir sang at the San Marco Cathedral in Venice, Italy and toured Eastern Europe behind the iron curtain; an adjunct faculty member at Florida Atlantic University until 1989; a recitalist at the National American Guild of Organists Conclave, New York City. Recitals were performed at : Riverside, St. Thomas, Trinity Wall Street and Temple Emanuel, NY; Washington National Cathedral, and Grace Cathedral, San Francisco; two opening concerts of the Assisi Organ Cycle in the Upper Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Italy; six organ festivals in Germany, including some behind the iron curtain. He also served as music director/organist at Union Congregational Church in West Palm Beach, FL.
In 1995 Bill moved to Gainesville, FL and served as: organist/choir director at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in High Springs and later as music director/organist at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Gainesville, where he founded the St. Michael's singers and donated his Schlicker and Ott pipe organs. He served as interim organist at the UF campus Chapel of the Incarnation and other churches in the Gainesville area. His love of scuba and snorkeling led him to the waters of Florida, the West Indies, Tahiti, Tonga, Palau, the Andaman Islands, and three trips to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. He holds memberships in the Society of St. Hubert, the American Guild of Organists, Phi Gamma Delta, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
He is survived by two brothers and their wives: Bradford and Elizabeth MacGowan and John and Jane MacGowan and two nephews and two nieces.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to : St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 4315 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606; Habitat for Humanity, Americus, GA; Doctors Without Borders ([email protected]) 333 7th Ave., Suite 2., NY, NY or your local Hospice. A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Gainesville, FL on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 11:00 AM. Arrangements are entrusted to Forest Meadows Funeral Home, Cemeteries, and Crematory. Please sign our guestbook at www.forestmeadowsfh.com . Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com
MacGOWAN - William Bernard MacGowan (Bill), internationally known American concert organist, choir director, and college professor, passed away peacefully, December 15, 2009 at Oak Hammock in Gainesville, FL.
He was the oldest of three sons born to William Leroy and Kate Byrd MacGowan in Jacksonville, FL. Bill fell in love with the organ as a choir boy at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, under the direction of Nelson Brett, his first organ teacher. A graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in 1943, he attended the Univ. of Michigan, earning his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music. He studied under Palmer Christian, Robert Nohren and Maynard Klein. Family members spent the summers of 1940 - 1946 at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. In an atmosphere dedicated to the love of music, the musician inside of Bill took root and flourished. He studied organ under Robert Baker and piano under Percy Granger.
A Naval communications officer aboard the USS Kearsarge, Oriskany, and Yorktown during the Korean War, he established choirs and singing groups on each ship. When in port, he studied conducting with Robert Shaw, and musicology with Julius Herford. After his Navy service, he held positions with Old North Church in Boston and the Boston Chamber Players; St. Philips Church in Durham, NC; Durham Theater Guild; Maple Street Congregational Church in Danvers, MA; Trinity Episcopal Church; Christian Reformed Choral Society and the Tanglewood Music Center.
In 1962 he became music director/organist at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, CA; made national appearances on NBC TV in Los Angeles and taught in the Humanities Dept. at Cal Tech. In 1971, he took a position with Bethesda By the Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, FL. While at Bethesda, his choir sang at the San Marco Cathedral in Venice, Italy and toured Eastern Europe behind the iron curtain; an adjunct faculty member at Florida Atlantic University until 1989; a recitalist at the National American Guild of Organists Conclave, New York City. Recitals were performed at : Riverside, St. Thomas, Trinity Wall Street and Temple Emanuel, NY; Washington National Cathedral, and Grace Cathedral, San Francisco; two opening concerts of the Assisi Organ Cycle in the Upper Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Italy; six organ festivals in Germany, including some behind the iron curtain. He also served as music director/organist at Union Congregational Church in West Palm Beach, FL.
In 1995 Bill moved to Gainesville, FL and served as: organist/choir director at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in High Springs and later as music director/organist at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Gainesville, where he founded the St. Michael's singers and donated his Schlicker and Ott pipe organs. He served as interim organist at the UF campus Chapel of the Incarnation and other churches in the Gainesville area. His love of scuba and snorkeling led him to the waters of Florida, the West Indies, Tahiti, Tonga, Palau, the Andaman Islands, and three trips to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. He holds memberships in the Society of St. Hubert, the American Guild of Organists, Phi Gamma Delta, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
He is survived by two brothers and their wives: Bradford and Elizabeth MacGowan and John and Jane MacGowan and two nephews and two nieces.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to : St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 4315 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606; Habitat for Humanity, Americus, GA; Doctors Without Borders ([email protected]) 333 7th Ave., Suite 2., NY, NY or your local Hospice. A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Gainesville, FL on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 11:00 AM. Arrangements are entrusted to Forest Meadows Funeral Home, Cemeteries, and Crematory. Please sign our guestbook at www.forestmeadowsfh.com . Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com
William Bernard MacGowan is an internationally known concert organist, choir director, and college professor. His obituary was published in the Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, FL on 17 January 2010. Obituary transcription by Cousins by the Dozens below:
MacGOWAN - William Bernard MacGowan (Bill), internationally known American concert organist, choir director, and college professor, passed away peacefully, December 15, 2009 at Oak Hammock in Gainesville, FL.
He was the oldest of three sons born to William Leroy and Kate Byrd MacGowan in Jacksonville, FL. Bill fell in love with the organ as a choir boy at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, under the direction of Nelson Brett, his first organ teacher. A graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in 1943, he attended the Univ. of Michigan, earning his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music. He studied under Palmer Christian, Robert Nohren and Maynard Klein. Family members spent the summers of 1940 - 1946 at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. In an atmosphere dedicated to the love of music, the musician inside of Bill took root and flourished. He studied organ under Robert Baker and piano under Percy Granger.
A Naval communications officer aboard the USS Kearsarge, Oriskany, and Yorktown during the Korean War, he established choirs and singing groups on each ship. When in port, he studied conducting with Robert Shaw, and musicology with Julius Herford. After his Navy service, he held positions with Old North Church in Boston and the Boston Chamber Players; St. Philips Church in Durham, NC; Durham Theater Guild; Maple Street Congregational Church in Danvers, MA; Trinity Episcopal Church; Christian Reformed Choral Society and the Tanglewood Music Center.
In 1962 he became music director/organist at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, CA; made national appearances on NBC TV in Los Angeles and taught in the Humanities Dept. at Cal Tech. In 1971, he took a position with Bethesda By the Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, FL. While at Bethesda, his choir sang at the San Marco Cathedral in Venice, Italy and toured Eastern Europe behind the iron curtain; an adjunct faculty member at Florida Atlantic University until 1989; a recitalist at the National American Guild of Organists Conclave, New York City. Recitals were performed at : Riverside, St. Thomas, Trinity Wall Street and Temple Emanuel, NY; Washington National Cathedral, and Grace Cathedral, San Francisco; two opening concerts of the Assisi Organ Cycle in the Upper Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Italy; six organ festivals in Germany, including some behind the iron curtain. He also served as music director/organist at Union Congregational Church in West Palm Beach, FL.
In 1995 Bill moved to Gainesville, FL and served as: organist/choir director at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in High Springs and later as music director/organist at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Gainesville, where he founded the St. Michael's singers and donated his Schlicker and Ott pipe organs. He served as interim organist at the UF campus Chapel of the Incarnation and other churches in the Gainesville area. His love of scuba and snorkeling led him to the waters of Florida, the West Indies, Tahiti, Tonga, Palau, the Andaman Islands, and three trips to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. He holds memberships in the Society of St. Hubert, the American Guild of Organists, Phi Gamma Delta, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
He is survived by two brothers and their wives: Bradford and Elizabeth MacGowan and John and Jane MacGowan and two nephews and two nieces.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to : St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 4315 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606; Habitat for Humanity, Americus, GA; Doctors Without Borders ([email protected]) 333 7th Ave., Suite 2., NY, NY or your local Hospice. A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Gainesville, FL on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 11:00 AM. Arrangements are entrusted to Forest Meadows Funeral Home, Cemeteries, and Crematory. Please sign our guestbook at www.forestmeadowsfh.com . Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com
MacGOWAN - William Bernard MacGowan (Bill), internationally known American concert organist, choir director, and college professor, passed away peacefully, December 15, 2009 at Oak Hammock in Gainesville, FL.
He was the oldest of three sons born to William Leroy and Kate Byrd MacGowan in Jacksonville, FL. Bill fell in love with the organ as a choir boy at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, under the direction of Nelson Brett, his first organ teacher. A graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in 1943, he attended the Univ. of Michigan, earning his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music. He studied under Palmer Christian, Robert Nohren and Maynard Klein. Family members spent the summers of 1940 - 1946 at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. In an atmosphere dedicated to the love of music, the musician inside of Bill took root and flourished. He studied organ under Robert Baker and piano under Percy Granger.
A Naval communications officer aboard the USS Kearsarge, Oriskany, and Yorktown during the Korean War, he established choirs and singing groups on each ship. When in port, he studied conducting with Robert Shaw, and musicology with Julius Herford. After his Navy service, he held positions with Old North Church in Boston and the Boston Chamber Players; St. Philips Church in Durham, NC; Durham Theater Guild; Maple Street Congregational Church in Danvers, MA; Trinity Episcopal Church; Christian Reformed Choral Society and the Tanglewood Music Center.
In 1962 he became music director/organist at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, CA; made national appearances on NBC TV in Los Angeles and taught in the Humanities Dept. at Cal Tech. In 1971, he took a position with Bethesda By the Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, FL. While at Bethesda, his choir sang at the San Marco Cathedral in Venice, Italy and toured Eastern Europe behind the iron curtain; an adjunct faculty member at Florida Atlantic University until 1989; a recitalist at the National American Guild of Organists Conclave, New York City. Recitals were performed at : Riverside, St. Thomas, Trinity Wall Street and Temple Emanuel, NY; Washington National Cathedral, and Grace Cathedral, San Francisco; two opening concerts of the Assisi Organ Cycle in the Upper Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Italy; six organ festivals in Germany, including some behind the iron curtain. He also served as music director/organist at Union Congregational Church in West Palm Beach, FL.
In 1995 Bill moved to Gainesville, FL and served as: organist/choir director at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in High Springs and later as music director/organist at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Gainesville, where he founded the St. Michael's singers and donated his Schlicker and Ott pipe organs. He served as interim organist at the UF campus Chapel of the Incarnation and other churches in the Gainesville area. His love of scuba and snorkeling led him to the waters of Florida, the West Indies, Tahiti, Tonga, Palau, the Andaman Islands, and three trips to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. He holds memberships in the Society of St. Hubert, the American Guild of Organists, Phi Gamma Delta, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
He is survived by two brothers and their wives: Bradford and Elizabeth MacGowan and John and Jane MacGowan and two nephews and two nieces.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to : St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 4315 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606; Habitat for Humanity, Americus, GA; Doctors Without Borders ([email protected]) 333 7th Ave., Suite 2., NY, NY or your local Hospice. A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Gainesville, FL on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 11:00 AM. Arrangements are entrusted to Forest Meadows Funeral Home, Cemeteries, and Crematory. Please sign our guestbook at www.forestmeadowsfh.com . Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com
