Sheldon "Shelly" Morgenstern

Mr. Morgenstern was a very important figure in my life. My family lived across the street from him for many years when I was growing up. He truly took me under his wing during that time. He was a guiding force for me as a clarinetist and as a conductor. I still wish I could talk to him about the "biz," but I know he is with me in spirit and proud of me. I often think of him, as my family still lives in Greensboro. Rest in Glory, Mr. Morgenstern.

Shelley made a very big impact on my life as a musician and as a person. My 16 summers at the Eastern Music Festival (as both a student and faculty member) under Shelley’s leadership were life-changing. I loved the unusual repertoire that Shelley programmed, his passion for music, and his caring approach towards every aspect of the festival. He founded the festival, kept it going for over 3 decades through many changes, and had a great vision for creating an educational program that inspired students to reach for the stars.
I regret that I cannot attend the memorial service on Jan. 20th to personally express condolences to Patsy and to the rest of Shelley’s family. He was a wonderful man, a good friend, and one my most important mentors. I will miss him and cherish my memories of him.

I was a student at Eastern Music Festival during the summers of 1975 and 1976. Watching and listening to Mr. Morgenstern conduct the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra in rehearsals and in performances proved to be a great inspiration to me as an aspiring musician. My thanks and my tribute to Mr. Morgenstern.

I knew Shelly in 1956/1957 when we were freshmen at FSU. He was a great guy. We once hitch-hiked from Tallahasse to my parent's home in North Carolina. It took us 2 days, and we rode the last 200 miles crammed into the back seat of a Volkswagen, complete with suitcases, his french horn, and my trumpet.

I knew Shelly when I played first oboe under him for several seasons with the Greensboro Symphony. I am saddened to hear of his death,and know that very many musicians and music lovers share these thoughts.My sympathy goes out to his family.

I was fortunate to have shared a summer (57) playing horn with Shelly when we were both young; a summer that I have never forgotten. My thoughts are with the family and friends of this exceptiional human being.

I was saddened by the news of Shelley's passing this evening. I would like his friends and family to know what a positive influence he had on me as a student and then later when I came back as a young professional musician to the festival. Not that he said a lot about it, but he just had such a great love for the music and just gave himself completely to being the best musician he could possibly be. He was a great influence for the young people, and always very respectful of the orchestra players. He was "Shelly" on or and off the podium and now that I think back, had a great sense of humor and really didn't take himself all that seriously--but I felt he took the kids and the music seriously, and that was really great . He imparted a sense of responsibility to the music--that it was and is so fantastic that we just had to try to be the best we could be in order to do it some kind of justice. I am very grateful to have known him a little, and he definitely helped me to make music my career in life.

From High School, I knew Shelly would go far in the field of music. We will truly miss his brilliance.

Thank you for a wonderful and active career of spreading the good word about classical music, and sharing your stories with us. You will be missed.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

We have lost a brilliant musician and a good friend. Shelly was an inspiration to countless young musicians from all over the world, and he will be missed by all of us whose lives he touched.

Ellagene and I will miss this good man who truly was a freind to everyone he met and had a great love of music throughout his inspiring life.