Jerry Fox, longtime president of the American Mahler Society, a kindly man who wore vast knowledge lightly, is no more. Jerry travelled far and wide in search of Mahler, was pre-concert speaker at the Boulder MahlerFest and  was generally a very good guy. Our sympathies to his family.

Announcement:

mahler society

It is with sadness that we announce the death of President Emeritus Gerald S. Fox, known as Jerry, on Sunday, August 23, 2015, after a long illness. Jerry was the second President of the Society, from 1987 until 2009. He was a leading Mahler authority, giving lectures and writing many reviews of Mahler recordings for American Record Guide.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 26 at 11 am at Gutterman’s Memorial Chapel, 8000 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, Long Island, NY.

Helen Kemp worked for almost 80 years as a singer, teacher, choir director and composer.

In 1949 she founded the Choristers Guild, which turned into a nationwide movement. Hundreds of US professionals owed her their first musical experience.

Helen, who was 97 at the time of her death, had been professor of voice and church music at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, where her late husband, John, headed the church music department. She was still conducting into her 90s.

Here’s the family announcement:

helen kemp

 

 

The Kemp family is profoundly saddened to tell you of the passing of our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Helen Kemp. She passed peacefully in her home on this beautiful Sunday morning, August 23, 2015. Mamma Helen was active and healthy, creative and fulfilled at her wonderful age of 97. Throughout her life, she shared the joy of music with countless choristers, students, singers and teachers around the world… Helen Kemp’s life is a life to be celebrated. She blest us on her way with countless gifts of love. Sing a joyful song today with her in mind. She would love that. (Service plans will be announced soon.)

 

We reported six weeks ago that Chancellor Merkel was planning to take with Berlin Staatskapelle with Daniel Barenboim on her first trip to Teheran.

Now it appears the Iranians are negotiating dates with both philharmonic orchestras. The Vienna Phil is expected to accompany Austrian president Heinz Fischer on a state visit in the months ahead, while sentimentalists in Teheran have fond memories of visits by the Berlin Phil and Karajan before the 1979 revolution and are keen on their return.

The source of this leak to German media is Bahram Djamali, head of music at the Iranian ministry of culture.

vienna phil pose

The ministry probably won’t mind if the Vienna Phil appears one last time in its traditional all-male lineup.

UPDATE: Vienna won’t go.