Choral Conductor Royce Saltzman has Died, Aged 94

The American conductor was professor of choral music at the University of Oregon and founder of the Oregon Bach Festival

Born in Abilene, Kansas in 1928, Royce Saltzman studied at Goshen College and Northwestern University, eventually receiving his doctorate from the University of Southern California in 1964. It was at this time that he took up a professorship at the University of Oregon, where he was to remain for the rest of his career.

Over the course of his five-decade career, Saltzman was a professor of choral music, associate dean of the School of Music, national president of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and a founding member and president of the International Federation of Choral Music (IFCM).

In 1970, he founded the Oregon Bach Festival alongside the German conductor Helmuth Rilling. At first, the festival was modest, comprising only a few workshops and concerts — but by the end of his 37-year tenure, Saltzman had grown the festival into a multi-million dollar event with an international profile.

Following his retirement in 2007, Saltzman remained as director emeritus and continued to sit on the advisory board.

"This is a moment of true heartbreak for our festival, the university, and the entire choral community," said Sabrina Madison-Cannon, the Dean of the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance. "Royce was a giant in his field, highly regarded for his decades of commitment to music and education."

"His passion reverberated across international borders and through multiple generations. I will miss his lively conversations and stories, his guidance, and his charm."

Our condolences to Mr. Saltzman's family, friends, and colleagues.