David Charles Friberg
David Charles Friberg, son of Charles and Rosemary Adolphoson Friberg, was born in Rockford, Illinois, October 2, 1943. He entered into the Joy of the Lord on February 10, 2023.
David exhibited early his affinity for music, especially the “loud” possibilities of the organ. It was with encouragement from his aunt and music teacher, Pauline Roland, that he began piano lessons at age 7 followed quickly by organ instruction. At twelve he was playing the organ for a chapel founded by the local Baptist church of which the family were dedicated members.
He lovingly recalls hearingfor the first time-Handel’s i h f i ll d Messiah professionally done and was awakened to beauty of this genre of music. As a twelve-year-old, he requested as a Christmas gift a copy of the score of the Messiah-he received two!
He attended public schools in Rockford and not surprisingly accompanied numerous choral groups in high school while also joining in participation with various singing organizations. Following graduation in 1961, he began an extended tenure at Bob Jones University, Greenville, S.C. He entered college planning to study organ as well as for the ministry; but finding the schedule too demanding, the organ became his focus. After receiving his B.A. and M.A. in organ performance he remained on the faculty for 17 years eventually becoming the head of the Organ Department. It was during this period he was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam era. He was removed from his unit to fill the position as organist (for two years} at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. as others he had trained with left for the warzone.
Following his teaching at Bob Jones he moved to Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn. where he served for nine years as Chairman of the Division of Fine Arts. It was during this period that he spent 7 summers at the University of Kansas working toward his MM degree and Doctorate. After a nine-year tenure at Bryan he joined the faculty of Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA, where he chaired the music department retiring after 16 years. He also has served on the faculty of Chattanooga State.
He holds membership in The American Guild of Organist, the Chattanooga Music Club, and the MacDowell Music Club. In addition to his teaching positions he has served as organist (and sometimes choir director} with the following local churches: Central Baptist Church, Northside Presbyterian Church, Lookout Mountain Presbyterian
hhd d b Church, and Second Presbyterian Church.
He was the original accompanist for Chattanooga Choral Arts serving in this capacity for 33 years. He has also participated as accompanist for the UTC Master Chorale.
He considered it a privilege to be an artist-fellow in organ and harpsichord at the Bach Aria Summer Institute in Stony brook, N.Y., but his most memorable experience was a Bach Organ Tour of Eastern Germany where he had the opportunity to play some of the same organs played by Bach. He also had the opportunity to play an original Tannenberg Organ at the Visitor’s Center, Old Salem, N.C.
Concluding this sketch of Mr. Friberg’s impact would be incomplete without noting and honoring the many “life’s moments” shared by the people of Chattanooga and surrounding areas with him-service music, wedding music, memorial music, individual instruction, recitals, and organ dedications .... ad infinitum!
He was predeceased by his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Friberg, his sons, Christopher Friberg, Kevin Friberg, and younger sister, Sally Pofelski. He is survived by a host of students to whom he imparted a love of music; faculty members of four institutions who aided these efforts; his church family-Second Presbyterian of Chattanooga; special friends, Dr. Ken Anderson, Dr. & Mrs. Jack Traylor, page-turner and companion, Norma C. Witherspoon.
There will be a memorial service to celebrate David’s life at Second Presbyterian Church at a later date.
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com