Harry A. Mulder

Harry A. Mulder PENNINGTON - Harry A. Mulder passed away peacefully at Capital Health Medical Center in Hopewell, on Dec. 12, 2011, surrounded by his loving wife of 63 years, Martha, and his children and their wives. The son of Harry A. Mulder Sr., and Bernice Hodgson, Mr. Mulder was born in Paterson, NJ, in 1922 into a musical family; he gave his life to music and his loving family. He shared his gift of music with others, including his students at Trenton High School, his choral groups, his friends, and the community through his many concerts over the past several decades. In 1942, he left Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey) to enlist in the United States Coast Guard at age 20, and became the chief musician for the Coast Guard Band for the Manhattan Beach, NY, Coast Guard Installation. He directed the 65-member band, and a chorus of 300 voices, performing in concerts, parades and bond rallies, at Arlington National Cemetery and in New York City, and on the radio, to raise money during World War II. Mr. Mulder performed frequently with numerous top musical luminaries of the day, including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Kate Smith, and others. Following the war, he returned to Trenton State College to complete his bachelor of arts degree. Later, he earned a aster of arts. Although he had many offers to perform professionally, Mr. Mulder knew that his mission on this earth was to create more musicians and singers, and to provide hope and happiness through song. In 1947, he commenced a 39-year career teaching music at Trenton Central High School ("TCHS"); one of his proudest moments was bringing the TCHS Choir to Italy to perform at the Vatican on Easter Sunday in 1971. In 1950, he formed the first of many choral groups, collaborating with the Trenton Junior Chamber of Commerce to form the Trenton Community Chorus. It became the Mercer County Chorus, more than 100 voices strong, many of whom were his students, and was a mainstay of choral music in the area over the more than 30-year period of his directorship. Anyone and everyone was invited to join. If you could carry a tune singing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," that was all he needed to know. In 1955, he directed the 22nd Annual New Jersey All State Chorus, performing in Atlantic City. Throughout his early years, he organized many choral groups and projects, including the TCHS Male Glee Club, various trios and quartets, including the Off Keys Quartet and the Royal-Ayres Quartet, and a number of small special groups. Another early project was his Voices of Harry Mulder, a 16-member group that performed everything from barbershop harmonies to sacred music on radio and television. All the while, he also gave private voice and piano lessons. Over the years, Mr. Mulder also directed church choirs at the Second Presbyterian Church in Trenton, the First Presbyterian Church in Cranbury, the First Presbyterian Church in Trenton, and the First Presbyterian Church in Morrisville, PA. They were all volunteer choirs. After retiring from Trenton High School and his choral groups, Mr. Mulder continued to share his gift of music by providing private piano and voice lessons, playing the piano, and composing music, all of which he did enthusiastically until recent weeks. He left a library of more than 150 original works for piano, voice and flute, many of which he dedicated to his family, students and friends. Harry created a signature sound and a quality of performance that rivaled professional groups. At a tribute concert performed in his honor in the 1990s, it was said: "You taught us that excellence can be established and maintained under the most trying of circumstances. You gave the very best of yourself to bring out the best in us. You used music as an equalizer to transcend the barriers of intellect, gender, age, race and musical preference; the greatest tribute we can pay is to sing well in your presence." His music room is filled with plaques, awards and mementos marking his contributions to the community, the choruses he directed, and the churches he served, including an NAACP award honoring him for the cultural enrichment of the youth of the Delaware Valley. Harry "Bud" Mulder is survived by his devoted wife, Martha; three sons, Richard A. Mulder of Long Beach Island and friend, Carol; David F. Mulder and wife, Christine, of Newtown, PA, and Michael J. Mulder and wife, Michelle, of Princeton, NJ; his three grandchildren, Johanna F., John R. and Connor M. Mulder, all of Newtown, PA, and his brother, Stanley B. Mulder and wife Margie, of Winter Haven, FL, all of whom will carry his warmth and love and joyous spirit with them always. A private family graveside service was held on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, at the Pennington Presbyterian Church cemetery. A public memorial service in celebration of his life will be held at the Pennington Presbyterian Church, 13 S. Main Street, Pennington NJ 08534, on Dec. 29, 2011, at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in the name of Harry A. Mulder may be made to the Deborah Heart and Lung Center, 200 Trenton Road, Browns Mills, NJ 08015, www.deborah.org