Michael Ross Knapp

Michael Ross Knapp passed away following a cardiac arrest in San Francisco on June 26. He was 57.

Michael was born in Rifle, Colorado, on October 4, 1954, to Dr. Robert Knapp and Joan Knapp. The family moved to Boulder, Colorado, in 1963. Michael graduated from Boulder High School and earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Colorado. He moved to San Francisco and earned a Master's degree in Cello Performance from San Francisco State University and a Master's degree in Composition from Mills College in Berkeley, California. In 1992, he married Silvia Nakkach, an internationally known musician, music therapist, author, and a teacher of the effects of sound on consciousness and health.

Michael played cello and string bass in many orchestras and ensembles in the San Francisco Bay area. He was a consummate musician who could pick up an instrument and play any type of music, from Beethoven to jazz and Indian ragas. He was an accomplished accompanist, and his solo cello improvisations were creative and highly technical. He delighted his fellow musicians with his skill, his positive attitude, and his wonderful sense of humor.

Michael was a composer, recording artist, and natural teacher who had the gift of inspiring his students to believe in themselves. He taught cello at the Community Music Center in San Francisco for twenty years. He also played piano for Music Makers, a program to initiate young children in the magic of music participation. He loved the children.

Michael was an intelligent, positive, and generous man who could see admirable qualities in everyone he met. He made others feel intelligent and positive.

He is survived by his wife, Silvia Nakkach Knapp, of Emeryville, California; his mother, Dr. Joan Knapp, of Boulder, Colorado; his sister, Linda MacDougall, and her husband, Scott MacDougall, of Clovis, California; and two brothers: Robert Knapp and his wife, Dr. Patricia Knapp, of Falmouth, Massachusetts, and Ted Knapp and his wife, Karla, of Castle Pines, Colorado.

A Celebration of Life and Memorial service will be held on Monday, August 27, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Community Music Center, 544 Capp Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, telephone (415) 647-6015. Memorial donations may be made payable to Silvia Knapp, 4053 Harlan St #202, Emeryville, CA 94608.