Robert E. Stoll

Robert E. Stoll died peacefully on January 26, 2020, at the age of 90. He was Professor Emeritus at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Born in Rochester, NY on December 22, 1929, to Herman Stoll and Dora Eiffert Stoll, he was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Elizabeth Terry, and his brother Herman Stoll, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Christel Johnson Stoll; by daughter Laurie Stoll and her sons William and Ian Grimshaw; and by daughter Lindie Stoll Nall, her husband Alan Nall, and their children Benjamin, Mia, and Luke. Mr. Stoll grew up in a home filled with music. His father was a cellist with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra, his aunt was a concert pianist, and the family hosted weekly Abendmusik concerts in their home for the area’s German immigrant community. He studied at the Eastman School of Music while in high school, then received his Bachelor of Music degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1952. While there, he was Assistant Director of the Gentlemen Songsters, a chorus that performed a weekly radio show in Rochester. He served in the US Army for two years during the Korean War as an entertainment director for Special Services, then completed a Master of Music degree at Syracuse University. He was a high school teacher, an administrator for professional summer stock, and a director in community theater before moving to Bloomington to pursue doctoral studies at the IU School of Music in 1960. He joined the faculty of the IU School of Music as Assistant Professor in 1963 and retired as Professor of Music in 1995. He was renowned among his students for his meticulous insistence on vocal excellence, on musical integrity across all styles and genres of music, and on the importance of ensemble and professionalism. He believed deeply in the importance of his role as faculty advisor. He encouraged his students to take initiative and to develop leadership skills, and was immensely proud of their ongoing successes as professional musicians and educators, and in many other endeavors. He had appointments in the departments of Choral Conducting, Music Education, and Opera Production; and for all 32 years, he was Director of the Singing Hoosiers. Under Mr. Stoll’s leadership, the Singing Hoosiers became known as one of the premier collegiate concert show choirs in the country. They toured extensively throughout Indiana, and in 26 other states and internationally, including five tours for the USO to Europe, Asia, Greenland and the North Atlantic, and the Caribbean. They appeared with preeminent performers including Duke Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael, Bob Hope, and Pete Fountain; with several professional symphonies; and at the prestigious national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and Music Educators National Conference. He also prepared the group to serve as the chorus in School of Music productions including Carmen, Parsifal, Faust, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. Mr. Stoll and the Singing Hoosiers had a rich collaborative partnership with Maestro Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops, including concerts, four recordings on the Telarc International label, two Grammy nominations, and, in 1995, a concert at Carnegie Hall commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Cincinnati Pops. During his tenure, Mr. Stoll served as music director for over thirty musical theater productions for the IU School of Music including Brigadoon, Carousel, Candide, and A Little Night Music. For 24 years, he was the music director for the adult choirs at the First Christian Church in Bloomington. And for many years following his retirement, he worked with the Bloomington Pops Orchestra as music director, conductor, and board¬ member in presenting the traditional Christmas with the Pops and 4th of July Picnic with the Pops concerts, and others. Among his honors, he was elected to Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Delta Kappa, and Phi Mu Alpha, and received two Leather Medal Awards and the IU Alumni Association President’s Award. He was designated State of Indiana Distinguished Hoosier, and was appointed Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest award for service to the State of Indiana. And now the purple dust of twilight time steals across the meadows of my heart… ¬ ― Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parrish, “Stardust” The family would like to thank the staff of the Meadowood Skilled Nursing Facility for their exemplary care and kindness. Arrangements are by the Allen Funeral Home at www.allencares.com. A memorial service will be planned for a future date.

Tributes

Robert E. Stoll

December 22, 1929 - January 26, 2020