Monday, August 24, 1998
UCLA music mainstay dies of cancer at 70
OBITUARY: Weiss built choral program, gave concerts around
world
By Payam Mahram
Daily Bruin Contributor
Donn Weiss, director of choral music emeritus, died of cancer on
August 17 at St. John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica. He was
70.
"The Department of Music deeply regrets the passing of Donn
Weiss," said the music department’s chair Jon Robertson.
"During his tenure, (he) was responsible for developing a
diverse choral activity program," Robertson said. "His loss will be
greatly felt throughout the choral community of Los Angeles."
Weiss had worked in music education for over 35 years. As
director of choral activities, he conducted the Concert Choir,
Madrigal Singers, Men’s Glee Club and the 250-voice UCLA Chorale.
While at UCLA, he brought wide acclaim to his performing groups
through local concerts, national and international tours, and
recordings.
Weiss built a choral department at UCLA offering courses in
choral repertoire, conducting techniques and a graduate program in
choral conducting. The program became an integral part of the
department, where music from all areas of music history was
performed, as well as compositions by UCLA students and faculty.
The program also provided training for future music teachers.
Under his direction, UCLA choral groups toured throughout the
world, including the United States, Australia and Japan. His groups
performed in such venues as the Alice Tulley and Avery Fischer
Halls at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York,
Orchestra Hall in Chicago and the Music Center in Los Angeles.
In 1970, the UCLA Men’s Glee Club performed at the White House
for President Richard Nixon and West German Chancellor Willy
Brandt. In 1990, Weiss spent two weeks in the Soviet Union as a
guest of the Leningrad Conservatory, where he lectured on American
choral music and conducted the conservatory chorus in the Great
Hall of the Philharmonic. This was the first time the chorus had
sung in the Great Hall under an American conductor.
Weiss was also the music director for the Westwood Presbyterian
Church for many years. Prior to coming to UCLA, he was head of
choral music at Washington University in St. Louis. During his
tenure there, he was associate choral director for the St. Louis
Symphony and was also involved with the Municipal Opera.
He received his bachelor’s in music education from Augustana
College, Rock Island, Ill., and his master’s in music from the
University of Wisconsin, Madison.
A memorial service was held at Royce Hall on Sunday.
Weiss is survived by his son, Craig Stanke.