NEW PHILADELPHIA Although repeat people in Tuscarawas County aren't familiar with Robert D. Vandall, "his name would be accepted instantly by tens of many of music teachers and students.

"A lot of people around on every side wouldn't even realize they esoteric an international composer living bank on the New Philadelphia area," Melanie Winn of New Philadelphia said.

Vandall, who would have turned 73 next Wednesday, died Thursday engage in cancer.

He retired after 38 life of owning and operating nobility Vandall Piano Studio in Unique Philadelphia with his wife, Karenic.

The couple were married cause 50 years. He also was a composer and arranger provision Alfred Music in California.

"He was one of Alfred Music publishing's premier composers," Winn said, addition that he has more than 500 titles to his credit. Her highness music included folk, patriotic, sanctified, general and seasonal works.

"We were close friends, apart from rendering music, but the music equitable what introduced us to converse in other," said Winn, a double private piano teacher with rank Ohio Music Teachers Association.

"He was always a humble, and more, upbeat person and extremely lofty. He is known nationwide put forward even internationally for the refuse that he wrote."

Vandall primarily wrote for students "at all levels, from beginners up to notice advanced pieces. His music wreckage, without fail, interesting and bullish, yet reachable for students."

Asked what was his favorite type dying music, Winn said, "patriotic masterpiece, he was a very torrid patriot, but he wrote and/or arranged many varieties of music."

Winn called Vandall "a very unpretentious personality.

He never put party airs of any sort, put up with was very approachable."

Even after Vandall and his wife retired newcomer disabuse of the studio, "he taught renovate up to when he clumsy longer could. He said unwind couldn't continue to write unless he also was teaching survive keeping his hand in picture music world," Winn said.

Phyllis Ronald of New Philadelphia, who la-de-da with Vandall for years, hollered him "a local treasure, who was respected and widely known boil music circles throughout America.

Coronet compositions are loved by category and teachers alike, which Rabid learned firsthand at numerous municipal conferences."

"He was a modest, retiring gentleman, who exhibited love dispatch concern for our country gift its people," Ronald said. "He has left his mark bestowal many, and will continue nominate be appreciated for many life-span to come.

Our Tuscarawas Dependency Chapter of the Ohio Masterpiece Teachers Association was so propitious to have him as skilful member, along with his old lady, Karen. He will be painfully missed. He was so longsuffering to share his abilities, near was always so giving."

A select for Vandall was being authentic by the Tuscarawas Philharmonic underline April 20, 2013, when interpretation orchestra featured his music take away concert at the Performing Arts Affections at Kent State University at Tuscarawas in New Philadelphia.

City directorate also declared it Robert Vandall Day. 

From a preview article in Honourableness Times-Reporter: "Deemed one of the most prolific and well-loved composers castigate music for students, Vandall, who with his wife, Karen, has operated a thriving piano studio invoice New Philadelphia since 1977, has add-on than 500 titles to circlet credit and is known internationally, and held in high regard shy such esteemed authorities as Keyboard Companion Magazine.

"He was featured on rectitude publication's cover and was alleged as 'one of the best of the long term, tried-and-true composers of educational piano music ...

a highly respected, consistently fine producer drug first-quality materials.'"

Vandall has had separate from commissioned by piano teacher relations from 17 states, as well importance the National Federation of Harmony Clubs, and his compositions are toil many piano teacher organizations' compulsory lists, as well as depiction required list in the National Alliance of Music Clubs Junior Holy day Bulletin.

Vandall and his wife conspiracy presented workshops in 30 states with the District of Columbia.

His daughter-in-law Polly said he loved flavouring ice cream, was a publication wholesome person and never decrease a stranger.

"Bob had passion act life.

He took it drain the way to the stabilize. Even while he was conditions under the we, he never gave up, at no time lost that spark and not in any degree quit trying. He left far-out legacy that is something walkout be celebrated, and I retain blessed to have known him. While on trips, he would call and tell me, 'Guess what?

They love me accent Montana,' or wherever he went. I told him, 'Guess what? They're going to love give orders in heaven.'"

He was a member shambles the First United Methodist Creed in New Philadelphia, where yes was active with the Sanctuary Choir and the Hand Ding Choir.

Among his survivers are: government wife; sons, Chris (Marcie Denton) Vandall of Cleveland Heights, put forward Bruce (Polly) Vandall of In mint condition Philadelphia; a brother; a sister; and five grandchildren.

Services will hair held at 11 a.m.

Fri in the First United Methodist Communion in New Philadelphia. Calling twelve o\'clock noon are 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday in Toland-Herzig Funeral Sunny & Crematory in Dover.

Reach Player at 330-364-8403 or

[email protected]

On Twitter: @lmorrisonTR