With Sadness: Betty Buchanan

It is with great sadness that I report the death of Elizabeth “Betty”
Buchanan. She unexpectedly passed away last week. Betty was a beloved
member of the Washington, D.C. choral community, founder of the Capitol
Hill Choral Society, and well known among choral directors for her premiere
recording of Amy Beach’s The Canticle of the Sun.

The following obituary appeared in the Washington Examiner on Nov. 1:

Revered local choral director Elizabeth M. Buchanan died on October 27 at
the age of 77.  Affectionately called ‘Betty,’ she founded the Capitol Hill
Choral Society in 1983 and remained its music director until 1998.  Much to
her credit was a critically acclaimed premiere performance of Amy Beach’s
cantata The Canticle of the Sun, which was recorded by the choral society
and orchestra on CD.  Her edition of the cantata of the orchestra score was
published by A-R Editions.  Norman Scribner used the edition in a
performance of the work with the Choral Arts Society of Washington at The
Kennedy Center.  Buchanan was also the artistic director of Singing A-Z,
whose motto embodied the choral director’s life-Making music, making a
difference.

In addition to conducting the Capitol Hill Choral Society, Buchanan was
served as music director at Riverside Baptist Church in D. C. for
twenty-seven years.  She also led the direct the Birmingham Southern
College Conservatory of Fine and Performing Arts in Alabama in the 80s
during a short break in her church music service.  Buchanan earned a
Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Arts in Music
from American University. Her professional affiliations included the
Society for American Music, American Musicological Society, American Choral
Directors Association and the Children’s Music Network.

A memorial service was held earlier today at Saint Alban’s Church, with her
colleagues joining together to render her favorite choral pieces such as
the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah and Burleigh’s “Order My
Steps.”  “She was one of the genuinely nicest choral directors I have ever
had the pleasure of working with.” said Ari Stern, a tenor and chorister at
the Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  Stern reflected fondly
on his experiences with the beloved director.

“Speaking as a professional singer who has performed with numerous groups
in the area, she was one of the nicest choral directors with whom I have
ever had the pleasure of working.  I joined Singing A-Z as a ‘ringer’ for
only a few concerts last year, but the group almost immediately felt like
family, due in no small part to the warm leadership from the podium. When
we went into inner-city D.C. schools to work with and sing to the children,
her face would light up every time, and the children responded to her
enthusiasm with equal energy. With Singing A-Z, she started something truly
special, and I can only hope it finds a way to continue in her memory.”
Stern further stated.

 In lieu of flowers, monetary gifts may be given to Saint Alban’s Church.

_________________________
Daniel E. Abraham
Director of Choral Activities
Associate Professor of Music
American University (Washington, DC)
231 Katzen Arts Ctr
202.885.3427 (office)

www.american.edu/cas/faculty/dabraham.cfm

Music & Artistic Director
The Bach Sinfonia
www.bachsinfonia.org

Professional Page:
www.dabraham.info