Dr. Brian Edward Bevelander

Brian Edward Bevelander, beloved son, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, professor, composer, and performer, passed away on January 8, 2026, in St. Johns, Florida. Brian was a man who achieved his lifelong dream of being an accomplished musician and composer, all while sharing his love of music, curiosity, and joy with the world. He was relentless in his pursuit of this dream. To his family, he gave the gifts of love, hope, inspiration, and hard work, and his impact extended far beyond his family to his students, colleagues, and fellow composers.

Born on January 12, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Charles and Dorothy (Coughlin) Bevelander, Brian was the younger of two brothers. He adored his older brother, Donald Bevelander, and the two were inseparable throughout their youth. Brian and Donald maintained an exceptionally close relationship throughout his entire life, a bond that remained a constant source of strength, sarcasm, and joy.

Brian's legacy includes his children: Gretchen (Greg) Sting, Mark (Tracy) Bevelander, and Garrett Bevelander, who will forever carry his memory in their hearts. He was a proud grandfather to eight grandchildren: Elliott (Constance) Sting, Austin (Amelia) Sting, Ethan (Lily) Sting, Christian (Anne Marie) Bevelander, Dylan Bevelander, Kaiden Bevelander, Mikaela Bevelander, and Donovan Bevelander. He was also the loving great-grandfather of five: Isaac and Caroline Sting, Bennett Bevelander, and Harper and Eleanor Sting. Each of them carries forward a part of his spirit, his humor, his curiosity and his deep love of music.

Brian was educated at the New England Conservatory of Music, Hartt College of Music, Boston University, and West Virginia University. His principal composition teachers included Thomas Canning at West Virginia University and Hugo Norden at Boston University. Over the course of his academic career, he taught composition and piano at Heidelberg College in Ohio, as well as at Glenville State College, Ohio University, Dartmouth, Boston University, West Virginia State University, and Hartt College. He retired from Heidelberg College after a long and distinguished career, where he influenced generations of young musicians and composers.

A gifted and prolific composer, Brian received numerous composition awards, residencies, and fellowships. He spent time at many renowned artist colonies, including Yaddo, the Edna St. Vincent Millay Colony, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Dartmouth, the Gerraci Center, the MacDowell Colony, the Danish Institute for Electroacoustic Music (DIEM), the Koninklijk Conservatorium (Institute for Sonology), the Instituut voor Psychoacustica en Elektronische Muziek (IPEM/BRT), and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland. Many of his compositions have been performed and broadcast throughout the United States, as well as in many countries across Europe and in New Zealand. In addition to his electroacoustic works, his catalog includes chamber and orchestral music, concertos, and solo pieces. He will live on through his music and through the lives he has influenced and changed.

Many students forged lasting relationships and found enduring support through their mentor, Dr. Bevelander. He was deeply passionate about both music and teaching. The work his students produced might not have been considered groundbreaking, but the work he did with them truly was. Dr. Bevelander inspired each student to think about music in new ways and to question their own assumptions. He never treated his students as mere pupils but as fellow composers-a gesture that reflected his profound respect for their artistry.

His legacy continues to resonate with the music his students create and the teaching they pass forward. His expectations challenged them to reach higher, and when they met those challenges, he shared in their joy with unrestrained enthusiasm. The lessons he imparted extend far beyond the classroom, carried by his students into every part of their lives. His impact on those fortunate enough to have known him remains immeasurable.

A celebration of Brian's life will be held at Magni Funeral Home, 365 Watertown Street, Rt. 16 Newton, MA 02458 on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:30 am. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am. Burial to follow at Newton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a small donation to your local arts program.

"What you leave behind is not engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others." – Thucydides