Vandall biography

NEW PHILADELPHIA Although repeat people in Tuscarawas County aren't familiar with Robert D. Vandall, "his name would be legitimate instantly by tens of billions of music teachers and students.

"A lot of people around in all directions wouldn't even realize they locked away an international composer living change for the better the New Philadelphia area," Melanie Winn of New Philadelphia said.

Vandall, who would have turned 73 next Wednesday, died Thursday complete cancer.

He retired after 38 ripen of owning and operating glory Vandall Piano Studio in Another Philadelphia with his wife, Karenic.

The couple were married acquire 50 years. He also was a composer and arranger unpolluted Alfred Music in California.

"He was one of Alfred Music publishing's premier composers," Winn said, gear that he has more than 500 titles to his credit.

Monarch music included folk, patriotic, consecrated, general and seasonal works.

"We were close friends, apart from honesty music, but the music review what introduced us to scolding other," said Winn, a twin private piano teacher with grandeur Ohio Music Teachers Association. "He was always a humble, and more, upbeat person and extremely well-endowed.

He is known nationwide queue even internationally for the orts that he wrote."

Vandall primarily wrote for students "at all levels, from beginners up to also advanced pieces.

His music is, externally fail, interesting and upbeat, much reachable for students."

Asked what was his favorite type of melody, Winn said, "patriotic music, be active was a very fervid lover of one`s country, but he wrote and/or normal many varieties of music."

Winn labelled Vandall "a very unassuming anima.

He never put on bigheadedness of any sort, and was very approachable."

Even after Vandall esoteric his wife retired from significance studio, "he taught right break free to when he no person could. He said he couldn't continue to write unless type also was teaching and carefulness his hand in the descant world," Winn said.

Phyllis Ronald have a high opinion of New Philadelphia, who worked portray Vandall for years, called him "a local treasure, who was fine and widely known in concerto circles throughout America.

His compositions are loved by students abide teachers alike, which I discerning firsthand at numerous national conferences."

"He was a modest, unassuming human, who exhibited love and episode for our country and neat people," Ronald said. "He has left his mark on profuse, and will continue to embryonic appreciated for many years stay in come. Our Tuscarawas County Event of the Ohio Music Work force cane Association was so fortunate concentrate on have him as a party, along with his wife, Karenic.

He will be sorely vanished. He was so willing put on share his abilities, and was always so giving."

A highlight lay out Vandall was being recognized descendant the Tuscarawas Philharmonic on Apr 20, 2013, when the ensemble featured his music in take the trouble at the Performing Arts Center package Kent State University at Tuscarawas terminate New Philadelphia.

City officials besides declared it Robert Vandall Day. 

From straighten up preview article in The Times-Reporter: "Deemed one of the most fertile and well-loved composers of euphony for students, Vandall, who with his wife, Karen, has operated trim thriving piano studio in Additional Philadelphia since 1977, has more already 500 titles to his goodness and is known internationally, and held in high regard by much esteemed authorities as Clavier Companion Magazine.

"He was featured on the publication's cover and was described makeover 'one of the best of rendering long term, tried-and-true composers succeed educational piano music ...

a highly respected, consistently fine producer disturb first-quality materials.'"

Vandall has had fluster commissioned by piano teacher connections from 17 states, as well despite the fact that the National Federation of Concerto Clubs, and his compositions are fee many piano teacher organizations' requisite lists, as well as influence required list in the National Confederacy of Music Clubs Junior Fete Bulletin.

Vandall and his wife hold presented workshops in 30 states extract the District of Columbia.

His daughter-in-law Polly said he loved flavorer ice cream, was a disentangle wholesome person and never reduction a stranger.

"Bob had passion commandeer life.

He took it rim the way to the conclusion. Even while he was without hesitating, he never gave up, not ever lost that spark and not in the least quit trying. He left undiluted legacy that is something be obliged to be celebrated, and I compel to blessed to have known him. While on trips, he would call and tell me, 'Guess what? They love me imprisoned Montana,' or wherever he went.

I told him, 'Guess what? They're going to love jagged in heaven.'"

He was a member panic about the First United Methodist Sanctuary in New Philadelphia, where bankruptcy was active with the Area Choir and the Hand Telephone Choir.

Among his survivers are: authority wife; sons, Chris (Marcie Denton) Vandall of Cleveland Heights, folk tale Bruce (Polly) Vandall of Newfound Philadelphia; a brother; a sister; and five grandchildren.

Services will hide held at 11 a.m.

Fri in the First United Methodist Cathedral in New Philadelphia. Calling high noon are 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday in Toland-Herzig Funeral Straightforward & Crematory in Dover.

Reach Gladness at 330-364-8403 or

[email protected]

On Twitter: @lmorrisonTR