Last week Tuesday (Sept. 11) I received the news that Whitney Thrall, retired piano professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, had died at age 96. My friend, Mark Russell, wrote this:

Whitney passed away this afternoon very peacefully.  It was the way he wanted to go.  He didn’t wake up and just slowly stopped breathing.  He had been sleeping for about 36 hours.  I spent last night with him and he slept the entire night without discomfort.  Probably the first time in months.  I know we all miss him, but wouldn’t have wanted him to continue the way he was.  He always told me that he had had a full life and never expected to live this long!

Here’s what I found out about Whitney:

Whitney Thrall was born in Buffalo, New York in 1922, and is a veteran of World War II. He received Bachelor and Master of Music (cum laude) degrees from Syracuse University. Prior to joining the University of Hawaii music faculty in 1972, he was Assistant Director of the Nassau Conservatory of Music on Long Island, New York.

Ross Parmenter of the New York Times said of his successful Carnegie Recital Hall debut, “Whitney Thrall is a pianist with a deft, assured, accurate technique. He is also an intelligent musician who explores his selections not only for their meaning, but for the varying beauty of their sonorities. Each work as approached, too, in its own style.”

As a youth, Mr. Thrall was an avid composer and studied with Ernst Bacon and Dika Newlin while attending Syracuse University. Always interested in 20th century music, his faculty recitals at the University of Hawaii introduced many important contemporary compositions to local audiences.

Performances by U.H. faculty members of his compositions include the song cycles “Caravanserai” by Laurence Paxton, and “A Calling” by Julianne Cross. “Looking Back—Fantasy Variations” was written and performed by Mr. Thrall as the commissioned piece of the Hawaii Chapter of the Music Teachers national Association in 1991. The Variations were revised by the composer in 2009.

I first met Whitney in 1974 when I was hired by the University of Hawaii to teach organ lessons. I always found him cordial, a genuinely “nice guy.” At the end of every semester the keyboard faculty would hear piano and organ students play juries (about 7-8 minutes of music) for critical evaluation. My title was Lecturer in Organ, and I remained on the faculty until 1988 when the administration decided that applied lessons should only by taught by full-time faculty. Thereafter I taught organ lessons privately, independent of any other organization.

The other members of the keyboard faculty (all pianists) at that time included Peter Coraggio, Edward Shipwright, Whitney Thrall, Beebe Freitas and Ruth Imperial Pfeiffer—now all deceased. I am the only one left—the last one standing. 😭

Over the years I frequently saw Whitney at symphony concerts, recitals and at the opera. He, along with Ed Shipwright, always greeted me warmly. A couple of times Mark Russell brought Whitney to our Thanksgiving dinner, and I learned that Whitney enjoyed martinis (!)

Here are some of the comments which were posted on Facebook:

Announcing the peaceful passing of the wonderful pianist, composer, and former UH piano professor, Whitney Thrall, at age 96. His gentleness, kindness, and incredible sense of humor were memorable. (Carolyn Stanton)

He was my piano teacher…he never made me feel embarrassed, I truly struggled to earn my credits for my graduation requirements in vocal performance. Rest In peace and aloha, Mr. Thrall 🌺🙏🏼 (Maria Au Hoy)

I studied with Mr Thrall and it was so special to see him at Dr Shipwright’s service. Such a gentle and calm demeanor and helped me immensely. Much Aloha Mr Thrall 💐🎹🎶 (Sharon Tamara)

I remember a very nice gentleman who played genius Chopin. (Robin Hall)

Fond memories of Whitney, a dear, sweet, gentle man. I can’t believe he lived to 96! WOW. (Tim Carney)