Daniel Kovats

I am just seeing this but I wanted to share a memory of my two years in the GVSC Concert Band in the early 70s. Dan was an amazing conductor and always seemed to get the best from each band member...he bolstered my confidence by asking me to play Contraalto Clarinet. I will never forget our holiday performance of the Pines of Rome at the then new Lou´s Armstrong Theater . I still get chills when I think of this and my parents were there to witness it. Dan was a humble and kind man as well as...

The Kovats family was our next-door neighbors in Grand Rapids when I was a child. I remember hearing Dan play his trumpet and practicing. The sound of music was always coming from their house. I´m sad to learn that they are both gone. Glad to hear they had a lovely family, including the grandchildren. I´m a grandmother myself now I´m sending my sincere condolences to the family Linda Mull Moore.

I met Dan when he was conductor of the GR Youth Symphony and soon found out that was but one of the many talents the man possessed! From Symphonic work to the Jazz hall Dan was all musician and it was a pleasure to know him! Had him for classes at GVSU as well- A swell man- Miss him!

I only today learned of Dan's passing, and wanted to add a few remembrances of my own.

I think that Dan was probably one of the two or three finest musicians ever to be born in Grand Rapids. That is not my judgment alone; when I shared a shuttle ride some years ago with the great Dr. William Revelli, longtime leader of the University of Michigan bands, I happened to tell Dan that I was from Grand Rapids. "Oh, then you must know my favorite student, Dan Kovats. He could play...

vija/vicki bowles

I remember Dan Kovats in his first or second year of teaching at Central High School ...even then he made a profound impression with his sincerity, humility, talent and ability to inspire. He made me switch from playing the violin to the string base and I actually recall wrestling the beast to the home of a nearby friend so we could both practice!!! Later on he judged my vocal abilities at GR junior College and suggested that i should pursue an operatic career...When my husband and i...

I owe much to Dan Kovats and surely extend my condolences to his family. As a student of his at GV, I was fortunate to have been under his direction for fours years. He was a consummate musician no doubt, but more importantly he was a compassionate and caring man. I have so many wonderful memories and I very much appreciate all I learned from Dan. His legacy lives on through those of us who went on to teach others and now have our own students in the teaching field. What a blessing to have...