Dr. Simon Anderson

1931 - 2016

ANDERSON

Dr. Simon V., 84, of Elgin, IL, longtime professor of music at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, passed away last Thursday, January 14, 2016, after a long illness. Born in Rhinelander, WI, he attended the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater for his undergraduate degree and the University of Michigan for his master's and doctor's degrees. Dr. Anderson arrived at the University of Cincinnati in 1963 and quickly became one of its most-beloved professors and administrators, serving as Assistant Dean and Director of Undergraduate Studies from 1969-1971. But the classroom was where he flourished. Beginning in the music education department, he taught scores of future band directors, orchestra conductors, and classroom teachers before settling into what became his true legacy at CCM—teaching music appreciation and pop music history classes. Countless students took distance-learning classes with his Man and His Music and Pop Music, U.S.A. TV shows, both broadcast on WCET in the 70's. His traditional on-site classes were always fully subscribed, with 500 or more students in various lecture halls. Students from 1992 on used one of his two books, The Musical Imperative and Pop Music, U.S.A., both still used in colleges and universities today. He published both books with his in-house publishing company, Clifton Hills Press, Inc., which is still in existence and run by his family. At the time of his retirement in 2004, it was estimated that he had taught over 100,000 UC students in his career. When not teaching, Dr. Anderson served as music director in five local churches over the course of 40 years, along the way writing five sacred cantatas for church choir and small jazz orchestra. He also was a well-known pianist in various jazz ensembles, including his own Simon Anderson Trio with local musicians and Quartet with his children. Other activities included being host and narrator for the Opera Insights program for the Cincinnati Opera from 1995-1999, guest speaking for the Cincinnati Symphony's pre-concert Classical Conversations from 1984-1996, serving on the Boards of Trustees for the Seven Hills School and the Classical Music Hall of Fame, and adjudicating the annual American Negro Spiritual Festival for many years. A speaker who was much in demand, Dr. Anderson gave hundreds of lectures to numerous organizations, regaling audiences with his wit and charm, always desiring to help them appreciate music just a little bit more. Dr. Anderson served in the United States Army for 2 years. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Nancy; sons Warren (Lea) and Elliott (Angie); daughter Karin (Dan); six grandchildren; a sister, and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2016, at 1 p.m. at the Gwen Mooney Funeral Home on the campus of Spring Grove Cemetery, 4389 Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45223, with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Judson University, 1151 N. State St., Elgin, IL, 60123, or www.judsonu.edu/give, with the words "Anderson Memorial" in the memo line.