In Memoriam
Dave Unland ( 1951- 2023), tuba
Dave Unland, 71, of Aurora, NY, passed away on February 5, 2023 at his home on Cayuga Lake. As a longtime member of the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, Dave was the principal tuba in the orchestra and performed in small chamber ensembles for educational outreach programs "Stories with Music." In addition, he performed with many orchestras in the mid-west and eastern U.S., namely: St. Louis Symphony, St. Louis Muny Opera, Joffrey Ballet, Moiseyev Dance Troupe, St. Louis Philharmonic, Gateway Festival Orchestra, Northwest Plaza Pops Orchestra, Springfield Symphony (Illinois), Syracuse Symphony, Utica Symphony, Albany Symphony, Binghamton Symphony, Tri-Cities Opera, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Colgate Symphony, Catskill Symphony, and the B.C. Pops Orchestra.
He also performed with many other ensembles including the St. Louis Brass Quintet, Ithaca Brass, Ringling Brothers Circus, Disney on Parade, Midwest Sports Show, Six Flags Over Mid-America, Catskill Brass Quintet, Dixieland Dukes, and the Viennese Serenaders. He recorded with the St. Louis Symphony and St. Louis Brass and recorded the Vaughn Williams Tuba Concerto with both the Utica Symphony and the Cornell Wind Ensemble.
Dave authored a textbook for college studies titled "Tuba Performance and Pedagogy" and was a clinician and recitalist for Custom Music as well as a contributor to the journal "Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion." He retired from Ithaca College after 33 years as the professor of tuba and euphonium.
He also performed with many other ensembles including the St. Louis Brass Quintet, Ithaca Brass, Ringling Brothers Circus, Disney on Parade, Midwest Sports Show, Six Flags Over Mid-America, Catskill Brass Quintet, Dixieland Dukes, and the Viennese Serenaders. He recorded with the St. Louis Symphony and St. Louis Brass and recorded the Vaughn Williams Tuba Concerto with both the Utica Symphony and the Cornell Wind Ensemble.
Dave authored a textbook for college studies titled "Tuba Performance and Pedagogy" and was a clinician and recitalist for Custom Music as well as a contributor to the journal "Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion." He retired from Ithaca College after 33 years as the professor of tuba and euphonium.
Read Dave's obituary.
Jeanne Z. Gerych ( 1920- 2022), chorus
Photo: William Cowdery with Jean Gerych celebrating her 100th birthday backstage at the Holiday Concert 2019. Photo credit Noel Sylvester.
Jeanne Gerych was a longtime member of the Chorus of the Southern Finger lakes.
A memory from a chorus friend “Yes, Jean was a peach. I'll always remember the time when she was just a spring chicken in her 80's. We were at a concert practice the night before an orchestra performance. The practice went on a little long and Jean, sitting next to me said "WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG?" Then she said "I could sure go for a beer!" That cracked me up. I last saw her this past Christmas as I finally took her the newspaper article that was written, about her, nearly 10 years ago.” I feel blessed to have had her as a dear friend all these years.
Jeanne's chorus participation goes back to the early days of the Corning Philharmonic.
Read Jeanne's obituary.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made in her name to the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, [email protected].
A memory from a chorus friend “Yes, Jean was a peach. I'll always remember the time when she was just a spring chicken in her 80's. We were at a concert practice the night before an orchestra performance. The practice went on a little long and Jean, sitting next to me said "WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG?" Then she said "I could sure go for a beer!" That cracked me up. I last saw her this past Christmas as I finally took her the newspaper article that was written, about her, nearly 10 years ago.” I feel blessed to have had her as a dear friend all these years.
Jeanne's chorus participation goes back to the early days of the Corning Philharmonic.
Read Jeanne's obituary.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made in her name to the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, [email protected].
Diana Groll (1959-2022), clarinet
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Diana Groll was born, raised, and educated in Watkins Glen, NY. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College, before returning to Watkins Glen to teach instrumental music until her retirement in 2017.
Along with playing with the OSFL, she also shared her talents with the Corning Area Community Concert Band and at commencement ceremonies for Elmira College. Diana also loved working in music ministry, which she became involved in as a teenager. One of her greatest joys was leading the Music of the Lord Choir at St. Mary's of the Lake Church. Read Diana's obituary. The OSFL honored Diana's memory on October 8, 2022 with the performance of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto by principal clarinetist, Emily Dobmeier. |
"I knew Diana for many years through my work with the schools. She was always an excellent partner on projects and a strong advocate for her students. We last worked together as musicians for the Musical by Nature program at Tanglewood. I will miss her." --Rich Preston, OSFL Board Member
Bliss Michelson (1949-2021), double bass
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Bliss Michelson was born, raised and educated in the Chicago area. As a double bassist he studied with Radivoj Lah of the Chicago Symphony and during army service with Henry Loew and Carolyn White of the St. Louis Symphony. He graduated from Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University in 1971. From 1974 until 1987 Bliss was a member of the San Antonio Symphony. During that time he began a part time career in public radio which eventually led to a full time position with WNED - FM in Buffalo, NY. In 1992 he became production manager for all-classical WWFM in Trenton, New Jersey, remaining there until the end of 2011. Most recently, Bliss served as an on-call announcer for Temple University's WRTI in Philadelphia.
For many years Bliss was a freelance bass player with the Buffalo Philharmonic, the New Jersey Capital Philharmonic (and its predecessor the Greater Trenton Symphony), the Northern Tier Symphony, Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea, New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra, Ocean City Pops and the Staten Island Philharmonic. Bliss started playing with the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes in March of 2017. Read the article on WRTI.org where Bliss worked as a classical music announcer since 2014. |
"He was such a nice man and a great bass player. He used to call me 'Maestro' in spite of telling him that he should be calling me, 'Toshi.' We will really miss him!" --Toshiyuki Shimada, Music Director & Conductor
"We saw with delight Bliss and Peggy walking to rehearsal holding hands, and he was such a gentleman helping her by carrying her oboe and showing so much love for each other." --Augusto Diemecke, OSFL Concertmaster
"I can’t think of a more generous, thoughtful, kind, and caring couple. I will always have fond memories... These beautiful souls will be deeply missed by so many. My heart aches for their loss." --Laura Campbell, OSFL flutist and Board Member
"We saw with delight Bliss and Peggy walking to rehearsal holding hands, and he was such a gentleman helping her by carrying her oboe and showing so much love for each other." --Augusto Diemecke, OSFL Concertmaster
"I can’t think of a more generous, thoughtful, kind, and caring couple. I will always have fond memories... These beautiful souls will be deeply missed by so many. My heart aches for their loss." --Laura Campbell, OSFL flutist and Board Member
