UCLA music mainstay dies of cancer at 70

Published: Monday, August 24, 1998

Monday, August 24, 1998

OBITUARY: Weiss built choral program, gave concerts around world

By Payam Mahram

Daily Bruin Contributor

Donn Weiss, director of choral music emeritus, died of cancer on August 17 at St. John's Medical Center in Santa Monica. He was 70.

"The Department of Music deeply regrets the passing of Donn Weiss," said the music department's chair Jon Robertson.

"During his tenure, (he) was responsible for developing a diverse choral activity program," Robertson said. "His loss will be greatly felt throughout the choral community of Los Angeles."

Weiss had worked in music education for over 35 years. As director of choral activities, he conducted the Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers, Men's Glee Club and the 250-voice UCLA Chorale. While at UCLA, he brought wide acclaim to his performing groups through local concerts, national and international tours, and recordings.

Weiss built a choral department at UCLA offering courses in choral repertoire, conducting techniques and a graduate program in choral conducting. The program became an integral part of the department, where music from all areas of music history was performed, as well as compositions by UCLA students and faculty. The program also provided training for future music teachers.

Under his direction, UCLA choral groups toured throughout the world, including the United States, Australia and Japan. His groups performed in such venues as the Alice Tulley and Avery Fischer Halls at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, Orchestra Hall in Chicago and the Music Center in Los Angeles.

In 1970, the UCLA Men's Glee Club performed at the White House for President Richard Nixon and West German Chancellor Willy Brandt. In 1990, Weiss spent two weeks in the Soviet Union as a guest of the Leningrad Conservatory, where he lectured on American choral music and conducted the conservatory chorus in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic. This was the first time the chorus had sung in the Great Hall under an American conductor.

Weiss was also the music director for the Westwood Presbyterian Church for many years. Prior to coming to UCLA, he was head of choral music at Washington University in St. Louis. During his tenure there, he was associate choral director for the St. Louis Symphony and was also involved with the Municipal Opera.

He received his bachelor's in music education from Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., and his master's in music from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

A memorial service was held at Royce Hall on Sunday.

Weiss is survived by his son, Craig Stanke.