Wed 27 Feb 2008
Last evening, Faith Presbyterian Church was filled to capacity with friends and family of Tom Mitchell, who passed away on Friday, February 22. Preceded by a one-hour visitation, the joyous service included congregational singing, readings and inspirational remembrances of Tom. The music included a prelude by brass quintet, and works for trombone quartet, performed by Prentiss Hobbs, David Loucky, Dan Drill and Harry Watters. Katherine Newman and I were honored to play flute and harp duets at the reception following.
This morning, I received a note from violist Sophia Burwell, herself a veteran HSO musician.
We’ll miss Tom. As another Alabama grad, I always checked with Tom on the progress of our favorite football team. He was so excited and honored to conduct the Million Dollar Band in the National Anthem at the Tennessee game. Tom was one of HSO mainstays through the years.
If you’d like to contribute a remembrance of Tom to this blog, please write to me directly. My address is evelyn “at” hso.org.
—Evelyn Loehrlein
April 5th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Tom was my Very first conductor. He was supportive by incouraging me to play the flute while walking the halls in school with peers that were less than inspiring or impressed. Tom introduced me to Evelyn Loehrlein for the purpose of private study and I must say OFF I WENT. My relationship with her was quite tomuluous at times. Good example being my lack of motivation to learn my major scales. I was still quite intimidated by her and she quite sternly with absolute intent said to me, “Steve, if you do not know these 12 major scales by next week, well DO NOT bother coming back.” Well I arrived the next week knowing my scales. I went on to becoming quite the show pony and entered and won concerto auditions from there. There were actually three of us: Maureen O’Donnel, myself and Chris Kock. We were what you could say the beginning of what is now the very accomplished Evelyn Loehrlein. I am proud to be part of the history and how it all began for me with Tom Mitchell.
God Bless.
Steve L. Scott