George W. Tobias

George W. Tobias passed this life on March 20, 2013. George was a native of Reading where at age 11 he began his piano study. At 13 he began organ study, and shortly thereafter became assistant organist of his home parish, Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church. After graduating from Reading High School. where he was a student conductor of the acapella choir, he went on to study at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA and at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD. While in the U.S. Army he held positions as organist and choir master of the Past Chapels at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, Fort Eustice in Virginia, The Main Base Chapel in Pusan Korea, and at the Main Base Chapel at Wheelus Air Base in Tripoli Libya. While in Libya, he was also conductor and music director of the Tripoli Choral Society. This group was made up of people from the American and British Embassies and personnel from American, British, and German oil companies who were working in Libya at that time. Under Mr. Tobias' direction the society presented the very first performance of the Braham's Requiem in North Africa. Since coming to the Philadelphia area in 1963, Mr. Tobias was organist/choirmaster at Saint Mark's Church in the Frankfort section of Philadelphia and at Christ Church (Episcopal) in Riverton, NJ. He became organist/choirmaster of Saint John's Episcopal Church in Norristown in August of 1979. He was organist and choirmaster at All Saints Wynnewood and Saint Timothy's Roxborough. He then returned to Saint John's Episcopal Church in Norristown where he retired in September 2012. He was then assisting at Christ Old Swedes in Bridgeport. Mr. Tobias was the organist/director of music at Temple Ahavath Shalem ion Brooklyn, NY For over fifteen years and cantorial soloist for more than seven years. He has played organ recitals throughout the northeast section of the country in Baltimore, MD, Washington, D.C., Hampton, VA, Warwick, NY, and at Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue in New York City, and at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. For more than twenty years, Mr. Tobias was the Director of the Montco Senior Concert Choir, which was formed in September of 1972, making it one of the oldest choirs of its kind in existence today. The Senior Choir dedicated its two concerts in April to Mr. Tobias. He touched many lives, not only with his music but with his ability to help others understand their role in the music field. He was a good friend and mentor and he will be sorely missed. A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, April 13, 2013.