Steven Jay Anderson

1941 - 2016
Steven Jay Anderson of West Orange, NJ died of complications relating to Parkinson's disease November 26, 2016 at The Cliffs at Eagle Rock community where he lived since 2007. He was 75.

Steven was born November 13, 1941 in Plainfield, NJ to Elizabeth Csepregy and A. Vernon Anderson. From birth, his mother took note of "his fine, capable-looking hands." She also wrote that he was able to pick out any tune on the piano from the radio by age 3. He began formal piano lessons at 7 and was soon lauded publicly for his talent with glowing press, local scholarships and numerous awards.

After graduating from Cranford High in 1959, Steven attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, graduating in 1964 with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in piano performance and minoring in music history. It was at Oberlin where he first established his clear affinity for Hungarian music, performing Franz Liszt's blisteringly difficult Mephisto Waltz, a fondness he attributed to his Hungarian heritage. It remained a signature performance piece throughout his career. He continued his studies at Syracuse University, receiving a Masters of Music in 1968; in Northampton, MA, studying under renowned pianist Walter Hautzig, and at Florida State University, in the doctoral program influenced by Ernst Dohnanyi.

Steven served on the faculties of Furman, Florida State and Syracuse universities, and performed in Germany and Austria in the 1970s. Perhaps his greatest musical legacy is the All Seasons Chamber Players, which he co-founded in 1980 with Jean Strickholm. With Steven as its artistic director and principal pianist, the ensemble performed more than 500 concerts between 1980 and 2005. After Parkinson's took his ability to play, he continued as program consultant until 2014. The All Seasons Chamber Players has, to date, performed more than 700 concerts and remains an enduring contributor to the New York metropolitan area's musical landscape.

Steven served as director of music at First Presbyterian Church in Rutherford, NJ; United Methodist Church in Demarest, NJ, and Central Unitarian Church in Paramus, NJ. He was a beloved faculty member at the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, CT, where he taught piano and lectured extensively on opera.

As a dedicated historian and performer of classical and early American music, Steven developed concert programs featuring the world's greatest composers, but also introduced audiences to lesser known ones. A New York Times interview cited his unusual program of works by previously unknown U.S. composers from the 1780s. He also performed the frolicsome syncopations of ragtime, showcasing the works of Scott Joplin, among others, in solo concerts.

Steven is survived by his children Karin Elizabeth Anderson and Matthew Alden Anderson, daughter-in-law Yasmeen Anderson, and grandchildren Avery Anderson and Graham Anderson.

A service of remembrance will be held at The Cliffs at Eagle Rock at 707 Eagle Rock Ave. in West Orange, NJ on December 23, 2016 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.