Phillip J. Isaacson

1941 - 2018

Phillip James Isaacson, 77, of East Craftsbury, Vermont died on Tuesday, July 24th in Colchester, VT. Phillip was born on February 2nd, 1941 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Wilton N. Isaacson and Ethelyn S. Isaacson. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Rylands-Isaacson, brother, Paul W. Isaacson, two children, Peter R. Isaacson and Kristin Y. Isaacson, and three grandchildren, Kenna, Madeline and Andrew. Phillip began his journey as a church musician at just 13 years old serving as organist for Nativity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota . His calling in music led him to attend Oberlin College and Conservatory where he earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Organ Performance in 1964. In 1964 and 1965, he was awarded a Fulbright grant to study at the Hochschule fur Musik in Frankfurt, Germany studying with Helmut Walcha. After his study abroad, he earned a Master of Music degree from Yale University, School of Music in 1968 and pursued post-graduate study in organ with Clarence Watters at the Yale School of Music in 1970-1971. As a life-long church organist, Phillip began his career as the Organist and Choir Director for First Congregational Church in Bellevue, Ohio in 1963. He also served as Organist and Choirmaster at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Wallingford, Connecticut, Trinity Church in Hartford, Connecticut and for 18 years as Organist and Choirmaster for Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut. Following his tenure at Christ Church Cathedral, Phillip held concurrent positions at St. Mark's Episcopal Church and St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel in Storrs, Connecticut. Phillip served as Organist and Choirmaster for St. John the Baptist in Hardwick, Vermont until his retirement in April of 2018. Phillip believed strongly in education and he impacted a great number of people who worked with him as members of his choirs. Early in his tenure at Christ Church Cathedral, he worked to establish a choir camp at the Kent School. The camp left an indelible mark on so many young choristers and was truly a ministry through music. His abilities as a teacher were highly respected and led to invitations to serve as a visiting/adjunct instructor at Wesleyan University, Artist in Residence/Visiting Link Professor of Organ at State University of New York, Binghamton, and as Organ Instructor at the Hartford Conservatory from 1968 to 1987. As a harpsichordist, he performed with the Nutmeg Chamber Orchestra, Baroque Companions of Hartford, the Essex Chamber Players, and as soloist with the Hartford Chamber Orchestra. Phillip had a long-standing association as harpsichordist for the Craftsbury Chamber Players in Craftsbury, Vermont. A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 10th at 1:00 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Hardwick, VT. There will be a reception following the service where all are invited to remember Phillip from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the yellow horse barn at 2062 Town Hwy 1/East Craftsbury Rd., East Craftsbury, VT.