Herbert Burtis

Herbert Burtis

Sandisfield - Herbert Burtis, 90, pianist, organist, harpsichordist, harpist, teacher, producer, author, and activist, died Friday, February 5, quickly and peacefully at his country home in the Berkshire Mountain village of Sandisfield, attended by his partner, David Fleer.

Herb possessed many gifts, musical genius being just one of them, and he shared them abundantly with friends, students and colleagues, all of whom were pleased to be where he was, and happy to work with and for him in any of his endeavors. Whether it was a string quartet, a chamber opera, a benefit for AIDS research or a completely new stage production, Herb managed it, from concept to ticket sales. He and his piano-duo partner, Eleanor Benoist Linley, played at Carnegie Recital Hall, and received a great review by the New York Times.

Herb was organist and choir director for several New Jersey churches, coming at last to Red Bank United Methodist Church, where for 21 years he was a leading force in the community. He was the driving force and chairman of the committee which commissioned a hand-built Hradetsky track organ, dedicated in 1976. His large choir loved him. He also formed and directed a Women's Ensemble, based at the church, which performed classical works for women's voices in both Red Bank and New York concerts. As a concert organist, he toured Europe and the Caribbean; directed and accompanied many choral concerts, solo recitals, chamber operas, and instrumental groups, imbuing each performance with his style, wit, skill, and perfectionist eye toward the highest standard of professionalism. He organized vocal studios in Manhattan, Cambridge and New Jersey.

As a college and graduate student, Herb was first and foremost a keyboard artist, but that talent was soon put to good use as an accompanist for New York voice teachers. He learned techniques from the teachers and their opera-bound students how to free the natural beauty of the human voice, and from those years, a whole new career blossomed. Because of his patience, kindness, and technical skills, tremulous students flowered into confident singers, performing in recitals, musical productions, and as teachers themselves. Seven of his students sang with the Metropolitan Opera, the most famous of whom was the late Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Herb and Madame Lieberson worked together for sixteen years, perfecting roles for the opera stage. She was a shining light to him, and he a meticulous, compassionate cheerleader for her.

In college, Herb met John Ferris, also a gifted organist and pianist, and the two became inseparable. John went on to build a distinguished career at Harvard University as organist and choirmaster at Harvard Memorial Church. Although separated by miles and career responsibilities, Herb and John spent their precious time together at a small house they purchased in the Berkshire Mountains. They created the Ferris-Burtis Foundation to help high school and college students develop careers as classical musicians. They also became active in the effort to contain and eradicate AIDS, and later joined GLAD, GLBT Legal Advocates and Defenders, to advance the cause of gay marriage. Thanks in part to their active participation, Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in 2004, allowing Herb and John, after a 'courtship' of some 55 years, to be married that year. John died from complications of Parkinson's disease in 2008.

Herb is survived by his brother Mervin, sister-in-law Kay of Portage, Michigan, nephews Stephen, David and Peter and their families, and partner, since 2013, David Fleer.

A celebration of Herbert's life will be held later in the spring. Notes of remembrances and donations should be sent to the Ferris-Burtis Foundation, 800 N Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257.