Orchestra violinist shot dead. Conductor mourns.

Mary Whitaker, a violinist in the Westchester Philharmonic and the Chautaqua Symphony, has died in tragic, horrific circumstances.

Details are still sketchy, but it appears she was shot in Chautaqua during the course of a robbery. UPDATE here.

She was a close friend of Marin Alsop and played at her parents’ memorial tributes. Marin has tweeted:

“Today is filled with unbearable sadness at the news of the tragic loss of our dear, kind, gentle, funny, loyal friend, Mary Whitaker.  I simply do not understand this world; nothing will ever be the same. Generous and loving always. “

This is Mary with Marin’s son, Auden, published uniquely with Marin’s permission. (c) Marin Alsop.

Here is Mary’s career path:

Mary Whitaker moved to New York after graduating from Indiana University with a performance degree in violin. Over the past three decades Ms. Whitaker has been associated with many of the major freelance orchestras in New York, toured regularly with the New York City Opera Touring Company, and also toured with Barbra Streisand during the 2006-07 North American and International Tour. She has performed with such chamber music groups as STX Ensemble, which records and performs the works of Iannis Xenakis; String Fever, a swing/jazz ensemble; and SIRUS String Quartet, which focuses on contemporary and improvisational compositions. Ms. Whitaker has been a member of the Westchester Philharmonic for 25 years, plays regularly on Broadway, and spends the summer months performing with the Chautauqua Symphony in western New York State.

Mary, rest her soul, was 61.