Edward Seferian's Obituary
Edward SeferianEdward Seferian, Professor of Violin at the University of Puget Sound from 1959 to 1999, Conductor of UPSÂ's first University Symphony Orchestra from 1978 to 1999, and the founding Conductor and Musical Director and prime fundraiser of the Tacoma Symphony for 35 years, from 1959 to 1994 died on June 7, 2003, after a courageous battle of cancer. Born on March 23, 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio to Loutfick and Berjouhie Seferian, he began playing the violin at age 4 at the Cleveland Music School Settlement. He studied under the renowned violin teachers Josef Gingold and Ivan Galamian. After attending the Juilliard School of Music from 1949 to 1951, he served as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps in the Military Corps Band from 1951 to 1954, under Presidents Eisenhower and Truman, and then resumed his schooling at Juilliard, receiving the B.S. and M.S. degrees in 1958. As a violinist, he was a Member of the Symphony of the Air, RCA, and Columbia Recording Orchestras in New York City from 1954 to 1958. He played under the batons of Toscanini, Bernstein, and Casals. He served as Assistant Concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony under Milton Katims from 1960 to 1966. He was invited by Pablo Casals to perform at the Pablo Casals Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from 1959 to 1965. Premiere performances of the William Bergsma Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in 1966 and the Leroy Ostransky Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in 1980 were among his performances, as well as violin recitals in NYC, Cleveland, Louisville, Washington D.C., Santa Barbara, Sacramento, Carmel, Philadelphia, Seattle and Tacoma. Guest Conductor appearances included the Victoria Symphony Orchestra at the Johannesen Festival in Victoria, British Columbia in 1990. Honors and awards include receiving a violin presented by Fritz Kreisler for Outstanding Violinist in Cleveland in 1947. He was an honorary member of the Phi Beta Society (Music and Art), recipient of the National Award for Cultural Achievement by the Steinway Piano Company in 1967, received the Faculty Recognition Award by the UPS Alumni Association in 1972, Tacoma Arts Commission Achievement in the Arts Award in 1983, the James H. Binns Distinguished Services Award from the Friends of TCC in 1988, the Distinguished Professor Award of UPS Faculty in 1989, the Washington Strings Association Award in 1992, was appointed to the Tacoma Arts Commission in 1998 and recognized by the Pierce County Arts Commission. He also served as the Chairman of the Puget Sound Faculty Senate and President of the Local Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. He was most well-known as a renowned conductor and violinist, exemplary violin professor/teacher and devoted husband, father and friend. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Jan Seferian, also a Juilliard graduate, daughters, Susan and Linda, son, Marc, grandchildren, Austin, Michaela, Edward and Genevieve, and sisters, Arminae and Rosaline. Please send memoriam to the Edward Seferian Endowment Fund at the University of Puget Sound, generously created by Bethel and Edwin Schneebeck. You may leave an online condolence and sign guest book by logging onto www.mountainviewtacoma.com
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