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| Mark A Williams |
Internationally known Kodaly instructor, composer, and
conductor, Mark A. Williams of Hillsboro, Ohio, born March 22, 1938, passed
away in his Hong Kong apartment on April 6, 2013. Mark was active in the Kodaly
concept of music education for over forty years. Mark received his Kodaly
certification from the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary in 1972. He
was a founding member and past president of the Organization of American Kodaly
Educators, as well as a founding member of the International Kodaly Society.
Mark was a graduate of the US Navy School of Music, Miami University of Ohio,
and completed all coursework for EDD at the University of Illinois. As a
composer, Mark has written many choral works. His books, Bicinia Americana,
choral music, and his children operas have been used throughout the world. He
leaves behind a musical legacy, having taught children and adults in the U.S.
Virgin Islands, Texas, Curtis School, Colburn School of Performing Arts- Los
Angeles, People’s Republic of China, Yew Chung International Schools, HK
Baptist University, HK Academy of Performing Arts, Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau
School- Hong Kong, and many more. He had a passion for teaching English through
music, and as such, explored his methods for his program MusikaLingua throughout
China and Thailand.
Mark is survived by his children, Mark, Kevin, and Cathy,
and their mother- his best friend Mary Ann Hill-Williams; their seven
grandchildren, and their eighth grandchild due in August, 2013.
Hong Kong Memorial services will be held at St. John’s Cathedral, 4-8 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong at
1:30PM on Friday, April 26, 2013.
Mark’s American service will be held at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (where Mark was the choral director for several years) 8231 Callaghan Road, San Antonio, Texas 78230, at 2:00PM on Saturday, June 8, 2013- reception to follow in the church.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to “Mark A. Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund” at Colburn School, 200 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA90012; USA.
Mark’s American service will be held at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (where Mark was the choral director for several years) 8231 Callaghan Road, San Antonio, Texas 78230, at 2:00PM on Saturday, June 8, 2013- reception to follow in the church.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to “Mark A. Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund” at Colburn School, 200 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA90012; USA.
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| Teaching a class in Hong Kong |
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| Christmas with his family, 2006 |
Mark was my mentor, teacher and close friend. I was among the seven graduate students whom he taught and laid the foundation of Kodaly and its methods while at UTSA in 1978 and 1979.
ReplyDeleteI would not be where I am today had it not been for Mark.
You will be missed is trivial and not the appropriate phrase for this enigmatic person. Your legacy will live on, Mark, for generations to come and worldwide. You touched our souls. Thank you for your unselfish generosity.
Ron English