Memorial service set for Robert Town
Lynne Davis, associate professor of organ, Ann and Dennis Ross, Endowed Faculty of Distinction at WSU, and some of Town's former students will play in the service.
Robert L. Town was born in Waterman, Wis., on Oct. 31, 1937, and died on Dec. 10, 2013, after a long illness.
Town was a professor of organ at Wichita State from 1965-2006. His efforts at WSU led to the acquisition of the great Marcussen organ and a building (Wiedemann Hall) to house it. Many of the finest organists in the world have given recitals in Wiedemann Hall.
His interest in the pipe organ began when he was 3 years old, attending church for the first time when his parents felt he would sit still during the service. Instead of fighting boredom, he was fascinated by the organ, an interest that blossomed and ultimately revealed his tremendous skills.
At 12, he headed a successful campaign to purchase a Hammond organ for his church. Soon after, he was appointed organist at First Baptist Church in Weedsport, NY, when he was 15.
Town was admitted to the Eastman School of Music and received his bachelor's of music degree in 1960 studying with Catharine Crozier. He earned his master's degree at Syracuse University with Arthur Poister.
He began his doctoral work at the University of Michigan with Marilyn Mason and was appointed to a teaching position as he continued his doctoral studies.
Hearing about a faculty position opening at Wichita State University, he applied and was accepted to the position in 1965 by Walter Duerksen, dean of the College of Fine Arts. He taught until his retirement in 2006.
Town was a master teacher. His students were successful in competition across the United States and internationally. Two of his students received the Fulbright Award, the only students to do so in the history of the College of Fine Arts. He was a demanding but dearly loved instructor.
He was also an accomplished concert recitalist, playing organ across the United States and Europe. At age 25, he won the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Young Artist Competition, winning over organists with 10 years greater experience. He then gave a recital at Boston Symphony Hall. Town recalled the competition as the beginning of his national reputation. His recital venues included the Kennedy Center, St. Thomas Church in New York City and the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.