Helene Mirich Spear
Helene Mirich Spear
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Helene Mirich Spear Obituary
For decades Helene managed the Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay, the Peninsula Symphony, the Westchester Symphony, the Culver City/Marina Del Rey Symphony Orchestras and the Carson Symphony among others. Along with her beloved husband, the late Julian Spear, they managed and contracted the Joffrey Ballet as well as the Ojai Music Festival Orchestras. Helene collaborated with many of the worlds greatest musicians in solo, classical, and jazz performances during her lifetime. She was always in great demand as a teacher and coach of keyboard harmony and improvisation to professionals in the music, movie, and television industry. Helene was a wonderful music teacher and was always so proud of her students. Additionally, she devoted her life to supporting the arts at all levels and she loved sponsoring animal rights charities. Helene touched the lives of so many people and will be greatly missed! Survived by family and friends, there will be a private celebration of Helene's life.
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4 Entries
Jeff Rodman
July 5, 2025
As a 25yo engineer who grew up playing adequate classical piano, in 1976 I was introduced to Helene by Jim Henderson, a tech manager who also played wonderful jazz piano with a combo at Hughes Aircraft Company (Canoga Park, Los Angeles) in the mid-1970's. I was amazed at what he could do and asked him how I might learn some of that. He pointed me to Helene. At my first meeting with her, she looked at this young kid with veiled skepticism and asked me to play scales. I was auditioning to be a student, I quickly realized, and, drawing on old memories, stumbled through one C major scale. She probably thought "Oh, God..." but only said "I only work with professional pianists who are willing to put in 2 - 4 hours of practice a day." I thought "well hm, I'm not dating anybody, I could do that," and signed on - perhaps to her surprise. And then fully committed to the regimen. It's amazing what you can learn in two years at two hours a day! Her teaching continues to illuminate my composing and playing to this day (72yo), and I've been grateful to her ever since.
Anita Gendler
October 21, 2023
Helene was a crack up and had a great sense of humor! She was a jewel and I will greatly miss her! My condolences to her family!
Anita Gendler, Cello-Culver City Symphony, Marina Del Rey Symphony
Matthew Hetz
October 18, 2023
My deepest condolences, Helene had a tremendous impact on me.
Helene was a fantastic musician in many areas. I played in, and was president for sixteen years of one the orchestras she managed: Westchester Symphony which became the Culver City Symphony Orchestra and the Marina del Rey Symphony. She was the epitome of a professional musician and very smart and savvy. She assembled wonderful musicians for the orchestras. And she was a very trusted mentor and advisor. Anyone who came into her circle knew immediately she was all business. Helene helped many women and musicians of color, which at times was a risk.
She was also a wonderful person, a kind soul who cared for her musicians, and one of most lovely women I have had the grace to know. I miss her.
-Matthew Hetz
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