BENJAMIN BUNCH

BENJAMIN
BUNCH, 67

LAKELAND - Benjamin Bunch, acclaimed classical guitarist from Basel, Switzerland, died July 8, 2015, in Basel, of cancer.
Benjamin was born July 17, 1947, in Statesville, NC, the sixth of eight children of Charles L. Bunch, Sr. and Katherine Frost Bunch. Following a self-guided tour of Europe with a friend after high school, Benjamin attended and graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC, majoring in organ music and later the classical guitar under tutelage of Jesus Silva. After studying with the masters in Europe, Benjamin was Professor of Classical Guitar at the Musik Akadamie in Basel for over 30 years, and performed on stage, radio and TV on four continents. He was invited to speak at the First World Symposium on Heitor Villa-Lobos in Paris and later in Sao Paulo, while touring in South America. He was among the group invited to the reburial of Andre Segovia in Spain. Benjamin, as a young musician, had master classes with Segovia. Benjamin transcribed and arranged hundreds of musical works for the classical guitar. In 2000, he was the featured artist for Lakeland's Imperial Symphony Orchestra. Benjamin was born on a farm in Statesville and enjoyed that life with his seven siblings, until moving to Brevard, NC, and later to Mocksville, NC. He lived in Lakeland briefly in the early '70s before moving to Europe. He came to Lakeland often to visit his mother Katherine Bunch, now 100 years old, and has many friends here.
In addition to his mother, Benjamin is survived by his wife Krisztina Wajsza Bunch, concert pianist, daughter Alycia May and step-daughter Anthea of Basel; brothers Charles L. Bunch, Jr. (Maxine) of Statesville, NC, David Bunch (Jean) of Lakeland, Austin W. Bunch (Marion) of Atlanta, GA; sisters Linda Best of Brevard, NC, Anne Toopes (James), of Gainesville, GA, and Jane Atherton (Mark) of Bellingham, WA. He was predeceased by his father Charles L. Bunch, Sr. of Statesville, NC and his brother William D. 'Bill' Bunch of Lakeland. Benjamin and Bill were featured musicians at annual family gatherings. Benjamin's recent life was centered around daughter Alycia May who, at age 7, under the guidance and inspiration of Benjamin and Krisztina, is already an accomplished violinist, singer and dancer. His dedication and commitment to staying close to his roots and family in the U.S. was unparalleled.
Funeral arrangements in Switzerland are pending and a memorial service will be held in Lakeland at a later date.