PAUL SPERRY

SPERRY--Paul, died of heart failure on June 13, 2024 in Manhattan, surrounded by his three children, their spouses, and his seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by the love of his life, sculptor Ann Sperry. A concert tenor and teacher of song repertoire, his first musical loves were French and German songs, but his absorbing love of American contemporary songs and the people who write and perform them defined his performing and teaching careers. He premiered dozens of new works including Leonard Bernstein's "Dybbuk Suite" with the composer conducting the New York Philharmonic and Bernard Rands' Pulitzer Prize winning "Canti del Sole." He recorded 36 albums and compiled and edited eight books of American song repertoire. He mentored generations of young singers and commissioned works from numerous composers, many of whom became friends. As a teacher, he served on the faculty of The Juilliard School, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan; and was still teaching at the Manhattan School of Music and Brooklyn College at age 90. In promoting American contemporary music, he served as the Director of Joy in Singing, President of the American Music Center, and Chair of the American Composers Orchestra. He performed his final concert on his 90th birthday, April 14, 2024. Paul brought joy to all the facets of his life from his love of good food and good wine to his passion for good (and bad) jokes that he shared with a broad set of friends and family with whom he was always in touch. He is survived by his brother Leonard, sister Deborah Goldyne, three sons Ethan (Siri Hoogen), Raphael (Laura Juran), and Joshua (Ilinisa Hendrickson) and grandchildren Max, Cayesh, Milo, Solomon, Diran, Rain, and Siula. A memorial celebration will be held in Manhattan in early fall. Donations to the American Music Center - now New Music USA, would honor his memory: https://newmusicusa.org/ support-our-work/