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George Corwin Obituary
Memories and Condolences
for George Corwin
24 Entries
Barbara Cole
August 11, 2024
I remember Mr Corwin when I was in the InterHigh Choir in Rochester, NY in the early 60s. We all loved him; he brought out the best in each one of us and we worked hard to make him proud of our performances. He had a wonderful sense of humor and the time we spent in rehearsals and concerts are some of my most cherished memories. My granddaughter now has a choral director who reminds so much of Mr Corwin, not only in his style of directing, but in appearance as I remember him. I am so sorry to hear of his passing and know he left each one of us (and the world) a wonderful gift which is the gift of music.
Tony Patriarche
May 4, 2024
Belated condolences to all. I had not heard that George had left us until he vanished from my Facebook friends list recently. I first sang with him at Uvic in Poulenc's "Gloria", his debut there iirc. He greatly impressed me with his nuanced approach to the subtleties of Poulenc's music, and his distinctive (and sometimes quirky) ways of conveying to the singers how to render the exact musical effect he wanted. I sang with him on several later occasions. I greatly valued his musicianship and his warm personality. I shall miss him.
Thomas Osborne
April 17, 2022
My sympathy to friends and family. Dr. Corwin was one of my most influential teachers. Thank you sir and may you Rest In Peace!
Douglas Green
July 16, 2021
I was a student at John Marshall HS in Rochester, NY in the late 1950's. In a stroke of fate, my life intersected with the artistic vocal brilliance that George offered his choirs, madrigal singers... all his teaching endeavors.
But he taught far more than vocal music. He instilled in us a sense of self respect, self confidence, a need to reach beyond our preconceived individual limits.
George shared with me the personal benefits to him of his military service, and was key in providing the guidance I needed to become a member of the US Air Force Band following graduation. Looking back, he was undoubtedly the most influential individual in my entire life... he rescued me when it was needed... I owe him so much.
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Jacklyn Schneider
February 26, 2021
I just read the notice of George’s death in the Winter 2021 Eastman Notes. I was a voice student at Eastman from 1959-1964. George was beginning work on his doctorate and directing the chorus at Eastman. He was also choir director at First Presbyterian church in Rochester where I was alto soloist during my student days. Howard Hanson, Director of the Eastman School, was a deacon of the church. I have a bulletin from a service at which Hanson preached the sermon and I sang a Hugo Wolf song. George is listed as choir director. I also recently found a piece of music, an aria from Mendelssohn’s St. Paul, with his name on it. I’m sure I sang it at First Pres. I count George Corwin among the important music influencers in my life in the art we love.
Kathleen Gibson
January 15, 2021
I saw the Cadboro Bay property for sale and wondered about George and Joanne. I am so sad - for us - to learn both have joined the ancestors. I sang with University Chorus in the 1970s and 80s and loved being part of many grand oratorios.
Who could forget performing Verdi Requiem in the old aircraft hangar, and the pop can that fell off the top choir riser at one dramatic moment when there was supposed to be complete silence? I still remember George describing his own heart nearly stopping when he turned to the last page of the original score of Mozart's Requiem. I appreciated George's fierceness, which got results, and recognized it as passion for our craft.
I also treasure a memory of a small group visiting him and Joanne unannounced one Christmastide to sing carols. George and Joanne brought their gifts to so many people while celebrating music and art with us. Bless them and blessings to their family.
Sally Clarkson
November 11, 2020
Just a note to say I will be thinking of the Corwin clan on Sunday, George’s birthday, and missing a true gentleman and good friend who taught me a lot about music and life in general.
sande macmorran
May 8, 2020
Wonderful influence during my undergraduate years at Ball State University.
Brenna T
April 12, 2020
I had the pleasure of meeting George at the physiotherapy clinic I worked at, he was a kind, thoughtful man, with wonderful stories. He always took the time to ask, how I was doing. I enjoyed our chats and always looked forward to seeing him and his wife. I was saddened to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family.
Richard
April 8, 2020
I was a student at UVic in 1990-94 and had the honour of playing in George's contemporary ensemble in 1993 and 1994. He was a man who thrived on the challenges of new and old music. His confidence in me as well as encouragement in no small part helped me forge a career in music. He will be sorely missed. God bless you Dr Corwin and may the Angels sing even brighter for you in your new role as Choir director
Joanie Beaubien
April 7, 2020
Dear Jennifer and the Corwin Clan,
I offer my heart felt condolances to all of you, My mother Marg Beaubien, sang in the University chorus since the beginning, so I fondly remember attending all their performances. Speaking with my Mother yesterday, she expressed her saddness at the loss of your father, and the loss of not being able to "celabrate his life" at a funeral, she offers her compassion to the the family during this challenging time. She also is grateful to have had the opportunity to have shared so many years singing and for the joy that brought her and so many!!! Ode to Joy!!!
David MacIntyre
April 5, 2020
George Corwin was kind, generous, funny, sincere, powerful and, perhaps, the most demanding musician I've ever had the pleasure of working with. I sang tenor solo in works for orchestra and chorus under his baton including "the roasted swan" in Orff's CARMINA BURANA and "the child" in Michael Tippett's A CHILD OF OUR TIME as well as a number of Bach Cantatas and Vaughan Williams "SERENADE TO MUSIC" for 16 solo singers and orchestra.
He conducted some of my major works including the piano concerto "SALT" and my first opera "HUMULUS THE MUTE" on a libretto by Jean Anouilh and dedicated to George and his marvelous wife, Joanne. He was my conducting and orchestration mentor through the UVic Orchestra whose rehearsals I attended religiously. Beyond our work together in music, we became close friends and I enjoyed his company almost more than anyone else in my adult life (except, perhaps, my wife) and we laughed pretty much all the time we were together. His family accepted me as one of their own and they took me in (literally) to live with them when I was recuperating after major surgery. They showed me familial kindness I'd rarely experienced before, and the whole family was a constant source of love throughout my life.
It is my humble opinion that George Corwin was one of the central forces of the School of Music at UVic because he attracted the very best musicians and academics, both of which are necessary if you want your School to be the envy of others across the country. George and I talked about music pretty much all the time I studied with him and the years thereafter. He was the father of so many music students that I think his own children learned how to share through their own practice of "sharing" their father; that much was demanded of them, simply because their father was loved by so many. RIP George, my dear friend.
Mary Ward
April 5, 2020
I was a student of Georges at John Marshall High School in ROchester NY. No one influenced the adult I grew to be more than George. He taught the ecstasy of excellence and the knowledge that we can do and be more than we dream. All who knew him will cherish his memory. Mary Edith Ward.
David & Bev Grubb
April 4, 2020
I was in Amity Singers and the UVic Chorus when George first took over in 1969-70. Throughout the years, my wife and I sang for him almost exclusively (including those summer sessions surrounding the piano with Joanne's accompaniment) and for our private performance & picnic in the back garden.
We are going to miss George's talents as a musician and a conductor, and more important, his humanity.
David & Bev Grubb
Dave Kelsey
April 4, 2020
I continue to carry with me a few memories of Dr Corwin. He kept his cool, while we were misbehaving, unprepared. I think of the time, during a rehearsal, he "encourage" us to "slow down and enjoy!... what's your hurry?!" I have a vision of him, during the performant of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, a pause between movements. I also recall a couple of moments where his wife would be present either at rehearsals or performance... from my vantage I saw ... sweetness between them. He sparked a love of choral music in me. I very much respected him. Rest in Peace.
Julie chanin
April 4, 2020
Lovely man who loved his wife fiercely to the end. Opportunity to meet them both upon friendly and assistive matters. Condolences to his family. Julie Chanin Oak Bay Police
Sylvain Lefebvre
April 4, 2020
Semper Fideles
Sylvain Lefebvre
April 4, 2020
Semper Fideles
Seth Corwin
April 4, 2020
One of the challenges of being separated from my family by an Ocean, is the bitterness of missing life events, hearing only of them through a message or a call. The passing of George Corwin is the most recent instance that comes to mind.
Although I may not have known the inner life of the man I called grandpa as well as I would've liked to, I always respected him for his stoic calmness, complete conviction to his craft, and his enthusiasm whenever I dropped by to visit. By all accounts, he was an absolutely brilliant academic in a field that I can only express a cursory knowledge of. One byproduct of his career in the fine arts (that I remember with complete clarity), is the music he would play through a flawless LP player he kept centred in his living room where most of us would mount a TV. He dedicated himself to his work in music with integrity and passion, which was reflected in the ambience that would fill his beautiful Oak Bay home. Classical pieces of far European origin, from names I won't even pretend to pronounce - he knew them all, with the familiarity that I know the back of my hand. Even up into his final months, his mind maintained a refined clarity toward his craft. Just this Christmas, he was telling me how excited he was preparing for his latest orchestral performance. He did so with such a youthful vibrancy, I can't help but wonder how a mind so sharp could pass so abruptly. But that's not for me to decide. From an unfortunate distance, it's simply my job to continue my postgraduate work, which he always asked about and supported me the entire way through. It's a considerable shame that this should come at such a precarious time, and I can only hope that my family back home is helping each other through this loss to the Corwin Clan.
George Corwin now joins his wife Joanne, an equally gifted patron to the fine arts, who passed only two years prior. You will both be remembered with an unwavering fondness. I hope wherever you are, the needle never lifts from the vinyl.
Love, your grandson
--
Seth Corwin, B.Sc
D.PT Macquarie [2020]
Student ID: 44335652
Joan Wells
April 4, 2020
My sympathy to the Corwin family. I had the privilege of singing in the UVic Chorus and it was a great experience. Dr. Corwin always helped us sing to the best of our ability. I have many special memories of rehearsals and concerts he directed.
C
Sheri Robertson
April 4, 2020
A bright light has gone out. George was so influential in my musical life as my conducting mentor, as a fellow musician and as a friend. I never stopped learning from him. My dad and I enjoyed many years of singing in the UVic chorus, even after my graduation and I was fortunate to continue to work with him in the VOS and the G&S Societies doing musical theatre from the pit. My deepest sympathies to the Corwin clan.
Bruce Hipkin
Bruce Hipkin
April 4, 2020
George was one of the most influential musicians in my life. He helped and encouraged me enormously, both as an undergrad and grad music composition student at U.Vic in the 70's and 80's. He was a brilliant and demanding teacher, and I have, ever since then, been so grateful for having had the opportunity to know him and to study with him. Thank you so much George. Rest in peace.
Carol Sidhu
April 4, 2020
Sincere condolences to the Corwin family. May happy memories warm your heart. Board and members of the Victoria Choral Society.
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