Denver Oldham

So hard to believe Denver has been gone these past 8 years! What a wonderful player and teacher he was! He was a musical force to be reckoned with, and his skill at improvisation was absolutely mind boggling!! I greatly miss his friendly phone calls around Christmas time - Rest in peace, my friend............

Gone but not forgotten.

I STUDIED WITH DENVER OLDHAM FROM 1976 TO 1980 IN GLEN COVE.H REPEATEDLY ENCOURAGED ME TO DO THE RACHMANINOFF CONCERTO FOR ENTRANCE INTO JUILLIARD PRE-COLLEGE DIVISION. I DECLINED. HE HAD ME STUDY THE ROMAN SKETCHES AND MANY OTHER WORKS THAT I NEVER KNEW EXISTED. WE AD A FEW ROAD TRIPS TO N.Y.C THAT WERE, WELL...INTERESTING.I WILL NEVER FORGET HIS SPONTANEOUS IMPROVISATION AND COMPOSITION TECHNIQUES, THATS WHERE I LEARNED THEM FROM,HE SHOWED ME THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE TO COMPOSE AND IMRPOVISE...

Denver was a good friend of mine from back in NYC. I had not seen him in sometime since I had been living abroad. One day back in 2010 I looked him up and Wikipedia had him listed as deceased. I called his number and he answered the phone and we joked about it. Denver was friendly, caring and had a great sense of humor. Unfortunately I'm very saddened to hear of his passing. Wish I could have gotten to see him. I would have loved for him to meet my wife as well. R.I.P. Denver. You will be...

Denver was a great pianist and my piano teacher back in the early eighties - Over the years, I would always send him a Christmas card, and he would respond with a new year's phone call - In the late seventies, we even played a concert together at the Presbyterian church in Glen Cove - I played trumpet, and Denver played piano and organ - He was an exceptional musician and friend, and my heartfelt condolences go out to all who knew him - He will be greatly missed.

This talented musician was perhaps more appreciated in Europe, Ireland and Great Britain than he was in his own country, for some reason. More the pity. He sure loved Griffes.

I studied with Denver in Glen Cove as a youngster many, many years ago. He was an extraordinary teacher--very skilled, funny, and patient (he needed patience with me!), yet also demanding. To be such a gifted teacher and such a gifted musician is a rare thing.

Denver was that talented kid who grew up on Midge St. in Glen Cove. His father played violin and enjoyed playing duets with my wife. Denver made recordings of the piano parts for several violin and piano sonatas and 2 violin and piano trios that they both enjoyed playing. In today's age of longevity it is indeed a loss to all for him to die at 75, but as the philosophy goes it is not who long you live but how much you've accomplished he had a very accomplished life.