THE LEGACIES OF CAROLYN HAWLEY
Carolyn Hawley was an extraordinary musician: teacher, composer, conductor and performer as well as a painter and writer — a cultural force in this area. Now her voice has been stilled.
Born May 18,1931, Hawley died May 29, 2022; she led a varied, remarkable and complex life and she is deeply missed by her loved ones. Private services were held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to any pet rescue organization of your choice.
Hawley was born in Indiana, but by age 16 had lived in 16 different states before graduation from high school in Lacrosse, Wisconsin and Hamline University in Minnesota. She came to California on a Mills College Fellowship, and spent the next 10 years in Berkeley before moving with her children to Ukiah in 1969.
A graduate of Mills College with a B.A. and M.A. in music, Hawley was a student of famed composer Darius Milhaud and spent much of her career as a music professor at a number of Bay Area colleges. Along with rearing two children, she managed to spend 10 years as founder and conductor of Ukiah Symphony Orchestra.
She wrote more than 100 original compositions for all combinations of voice and instruments, including two major large works for orchestra and chorus. She was a recipient of numerous awards, including a Fellowship in Music from Mills and a Fullbright scholarship. As both a performer and composer, she won wide acclaim. Milhaud saluted her as “a gifted composer and pianist and a serious musician” while critic Andrew Imbrie called her string trio “one of the most outstanding compositions of the contemporary music festival in San Francisco.” From her website: http://carolynhawley.weebly.com/about.html
The pianist/composer/conductor moved with her children to Ukiah in 1969, where she taught music privately, in schools and Mendocino College, conducted church choirs, formed the Ukiah Chamber Players as its pianist, and produced annual concert series of classical music.
In 1979, she founded and conducted the Ukiah Symphony Orchestra, and held that position until 1989. She organized a Board of Directors to help with the annual concert series, and under her direction the orchestra flourished. In 1988, the Ukiah Symphony and Mendocino College Chorus performed her original “Russian River Mass.” In 1990, she returned to the Bay Area, joined ASCAP, taught music, was guest conductor, and an integral member of (the National Association of Composers of the U.S.A.), where her music is still being performed in concert.
Her book, “Memoirs of an Aging Woodnymph,” is based on notes from the decade of the '70s and the '90s. The book — published in June 2007 — is available on Amazon.com.
During the 20 years in Ukiah, she became distinguished as an oil painter, and also a published poet. She worked in theater, being instrumental in the early creation of the Ukiah Players, both as an actress and as music director for several musicals, and many Ukiahans even know her as their ballroom dance teacher, and “quite a few other things.”
When questioned about her life, Hawley simply said “I worked hard,” adding she still loved life and lived it to the fullest at her Lake County hillside home.
Her son, Lorin Hawley, said, “My mother earned her M.A. from Mills College under Darius Milhaud (important name in 20th century music). She was the creator and head of the music department at Laney Community College in Oakland. She lived (with us) in Barcelona in 1967-1968 and was involved in music and the arts. She moved us to Ukiah and the Mcnab Ranch Vineyard in 1970 and we built a cabin and she lived there for 10plus years composing music and doing a lot in music in Mendocino County. She authored a book.
“Up to the end of her life she continued to teach, perform, write music, and was an oil painter whose art won many awards.
“She played her last `gig' at the Blue Wing Restaurant in Upper Lake on March 27, 2022, after getting out of the hospital. I was with her, and she played for two hours despite being barely able to walk. On April 10, she played at the memorial for her long-time friend, Adele Pruitt, in Ukiah.”
In a story in the UDJ by Carole Brodsky (Sept. 16, 2009), Brodsky wrote: “For three decades, the members of the Ukiah Symphony Orchestra have brought to the community a level of symphonic excellence not usually found in a `small town.'
“Founded in 1979 by Carolyn Hawley, Micki Elder, Helena Bell and Jean Rogers, the organization started out as a small group of local musicians dedicated to bringing a first-rate classical musical experience to Ukiah. Over the years, the number of players continued to grow, and today the orchestra consists of 50 to 65 members for each concert.”
In a story in the UDJ on Oct. 19, 2009, Hawley wrote her version of the Ukiah Symphony beginnings and history.
“By 1970, the Ukiah Valley's interest in classical music was alive and well. Several groups of musicians were working together and creating a musical culture. Local church choirs were singing in a community chorus; violinist Julian Lobsein taught string classes at the Adventist Academy; clarinetist Duane Thompson had organized a woodwind ensemble at the Methodist Church, and Rowland Nielson directed and motivated the Ukiah High marching band.
“At that time, Berkeley college music instructor and pianist Carolyn Hawley, M.A. from Mills College, moved up to Mcnab Ranch. While teaching Music Appreciation through Santa Rosa College extension in Ukiah she met Paula Worster, cellist for the Sahlman String Quartet. The quartet consisted of Paula, Jahlmar Sahlman, violinist, Steve Geletko, violist, and Nancy Johnson, violinist. Carolyn joined them for a public concert at the Saturday Afternoon Clubhouse to a packed audience. Thus began the nucleus of what would become the Ukiah Symphony.
“Hawley began teaching piano lessons to children in Ukiah, often going house to house, and through these connections met other musicians. Meanwhile, coast musicians Virginia Cross, flutist, and Beverly Mcchesney, bassoonist came to Ukiah to invite Hawley to join them in a Trio. Calling themselves the Ukiah Chamber Players, this group performed several public concerts each year from 1972 to 1975.
“Meanwhile, Hawley was asked to conduct the Ukiah Oratorio Society Chorus, now called Masterworks Chorale, and was their director for several years. In 1975, Lobsien and Hawley joined forces with all available musicians and the chorus to perform the Beethoven Mass in C to a standing room only crowd. The word spread and UC San Diego”s music department chairperson Tom Nee invited Hawley to come and give a lecture on “Community Music in a Small Town” to its graduate music students there and to play the tape of this concert. The UC audience marveled at the ability of our musicians, which encouraged us all to continue weekly rehearsals in Ukiah.
“From this was born the Ukiah Chamber Orchestra, preliminary to the Symphony Orchestra. Culmination of combined efforts of cultural interest groups in Ukiah area formed the Music Umbrella Concert Series, which worked together from 1978 to 1982. The umbrella group, called MCCRC (Mendocino County Cultural Recreation Committee) included Mendocino Community College, Ukiah Public Concerts, City Parks and Recreation, and Mendocino Woodwind Trio, and others. Jane Haskell appointed Carolyn Hawley to represent the MCCRC in the planning effort. Bob Alto was the college representative, and Marilyn and Jeff Simpson, both musicians, were on the planning committee of Ukiah Public Concerts. Susan Husted from Parks and Recreation and Billie Smith from Ukiah Cultural Arts committee and Noel Garin of the county parks and beaches all combined efforts to bring fine music and the arts to the Ukiah community.
“The first concert in 1979 included pianist/conductor Carolyn Hawley, Marcia Sloane cellist and Carolyn Steinbuck, also from the coast. Meanwhile, The Oratorio Chorus continued performing concerts of choral music, and Ukiah Chamber Players continued their concert series as well.
“As the Chamber Players continued to grow the woodwind trio transformed into mixed group including violinist Julian Lobsien and cellist Paul Elder, and was soon joined by clarinetist Harold Vreeland, and others. Hawley was then director of Ukiah Methodist Church choir, and also music director for the Ukiah Players musicals, including `Alice in Wonderland' and `Hansel and Gretel.'
“The Ukiah Chamber Orchestra continued to perform three concerts a year, under three separate conductors: Jeff Simpson, Jeff Dickey and Carolyn Hawley. After the second year of this method, it was clear that the orchestra needed one consistent conductor, and Hawley was selected to lead the orchestra, changing its name to the Ukiah Symphony Orchestra by the end of 1980. Meanwhile the Umbrella board (MCCRC) sent out a questionnaire to the community related to the needs and wishes of Ukiah citizens in the area of arts and crafts, performances and music, hoping to get direction and knowledge of the needs of the area. The newspaper publicity and distribution of the questionnaire was remarkably successful, as Bob Alto of the college and Bob Axt helped distribute and succeed in this effort. Roland Pringle of PG&E and Janie Haskell met with the Ukiah Cultural Arts Commission in the fall of 1978 and continued working with community input and development of the arts.
“Monthly meetings were held by MCCRC as Dave Haskell and Walter Ihl, writer, were both elected to the board, soon joined by Jarion Monroe of the college, and Ted Feibusch (the plaque `Ladies of the Night' was placed by Ted Feibusch in the late 1970s. Feibusch was a local contractor, city council member, and Ukiah's mayor for a brief period). It was a successful and ever-growing organization, with high hopes and expectations.
“Soon it was clear that help was needed to run the orchestra, with its many problems and needs. In 1980, the first orchestra board was created, consisting of Carolyn Hawley and her friends Adele Pruitt, first chairperson of the board, Hylda Madigan and Judith Burton. They met over lunch and the wheels began turning.
The Music Umbrella still helped plan concerts as a non-profit organization. Donations and contributions were made by the community and the symphony board of directors quickly grew to include Mickey Elder, who became its manager; Paul Dirdak, Ray Worster, Phillip dejong, Inez Burdick, Imogene White and others. `Friends of the Orchestra' was then formed as a Guild, to add support to the symphony, and Jean Rogers became its active president.
She, along with Guild members Lydia Riva, Judy Lemke and others began the `Pops in the Park' concerts in 1985.
“At that time, the Ukiah Chamber Players was formally considered an extension of the orchestra, showcasing the music and talents of its best players, and the Music Umbrella planned the years concerts, with expenses met by donations and contributions. Once the symphony had its own board of directors, concert seasons and duties were planned. The Ukiah Players Theater also became self-sufficient. The Umbrella group had succeeded in its mission and was able to disperse.
“By 1981, the orchestra was a thriving group of about 40 capable musicians, willing to practice weekly and present great music to the community. Hawley was also invited to conduct annual performances of Handel's `Messiah' for Christmas both in Ukiah and in Mendocino, which helped to bring the county's musicians together regularly. Walter Ihl was the most loyal supporter, always writing excellent reviews for each orchestra and chamber music concert for the Ukiah Daily Journal, which greatly helped increase community interest and build the audience.
By 1982, additional musicians were coming from the coast and even as far as Santa Rosa and the Bay area to perform concerts. Hawley's son, Lorin, whose first percussion training was at Ukiah High School under band director Rowland Nielson, came regularly from Palo Alto to play timpani, and John Beeman, a bassist, came from Santa Rosa, besides several excellent musicians from Mendocino, Philo, Willits and Potter Valley. Small donations were solicited for gas money for these musicians.
After concert master Lobsien moved away, Jon Solow from Greenfield Ranch became the orchestra's concert master, and also violinist for the Ukiah Chamber Players. The orchestra board met monthly and continued its fine work of soliciting funds, doing publicity, and preparing all the details for each concert. The audience by 1984 consisted of one- to two hundred enthusiastic people, and the orchestra continued to grow in its ability, performing increasingly advanced and difficult music, mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries. Concerts were performed at the Saturday Afternoon Club, Adventist Church, Methodist Church, and the high school, always to a full house. Also featured were solo performances by Roy Bogas, William Corbett Jones and Nathan Rubin, Hawley's friends from the Bay area, plus solos performed by the best of our local musicians, too many to list.
“During the decade of the 1980s, Hawley was also busy composing an hour-long work for chorus and orchestra, written for America's bicentennial, called `Russian River Mass.' It was completed in 1987 and brought to the attention of the new college choral director, Les Pfeut-zenreuter. He was interested in combining efforts of the symphony with his chorus and invited Hawley to work all semester as choral pianist, to help teach the large difficult modern work to his chorus. The orchestra worked hard to read the handwritten notes and the joint effort culminated in a world premiere of this music for chorus and orchestra by the Ukiah Symphony and the Mendocino College Chorus, performed both in Willits and in Ukiah in May of 1988, conducted by the composer.
Hawley continued to conduct the orchestra in 1989, until mid-year when she returned to the Bay Area, and it was turned over to Les Pfeutzenreuter.
“Almost 20 years of consistent loyal hard work by dozens of Ukiah's devoted citizens interested in enhancing culture in our area is what created the Ukiah Symphony. That, and the dozens of devoted musicians who worked without pay, year after year in weekly rehearsals, and performances of the concerts during the 70s and 80s, many of whom are still in the orchestra. Those years of selfless service by all involved is what made the cultural `mecca' that now exists in Ukiah.”