Victoria Merrylees Glaser

Of Cambridge, 89, music teacher and composer, died on April 13, 2008 at the Sancta Maria Nursing Facility in Cambridge. She was born in Amherst, September 11, 1918, daughter of Amherst Professor Otto Charles and Dorothy Gibbs Merrylees Glaser. She lived at 37 Hawthorne St. in Cambridge most of her life. She took her BA from Radcliff in 1940, and an MA from Harvard in 1943, both in music. She also did Harvard Ph.D. studies with Walter Piston. Victoria directed choir and taught music theory at Dana Hall School, 1945-1958. She taught at the New England Conservatory of Music in various positions from 1957 to 1982, helping launch the preparatory school. From 1972 to 1993, she taught music theory, composition, and counterpoint at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge. She published numerous choral arrangements and a substantial text, "Training for Musicianship." Victoria leaves two nieces, Kristin Glaser of Montpelier, VT and Angela Glaser Bowers of Scottsdale, AZ and a nephew, Robin Glaser of Colorado Springs, CO. She was predeceased by her life partner, Gordon Lawson of Winchester, MA and brother, Kurt Glaser, Ph.D. While no Memorial Service is planned at this time, hopefully a musical tribute will be arranged for later this Spring. To help with this event, contact Kristin Glaser, 21 Cliff St., Montpelier, VT 05602. A.J. Spears Funeral Home Cambridge, MA(617) 876-4047