With sadness, we convey to the larger arts community news of the death of long-time NC Symphony member Dennis Kordell, who passed away March 5.
Here is the notice, shared by the North Carolina Symphony Musicians:
“Our long-time friend and colleague, Dennis Kordell, passed away this afternoon at WakeMed. He was surrounded by his daughter Mary, his sister Idee, many cousins, and members of the orchestra both former and current. Dennis was given Last Rites at 2:30 pm, and passed away at approx. 3:30 pm.
“Dennis joined the NC Symphony on October 22, 1972, and retired in December of 2011. At the time of his retirement, a bio was issued that said:
“‘Dennis Kordell has been a strong musical and personal presence in the North Carolina Symphony since 1972. From his earliest days as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan he pursued two passions: music and baseball. This passion for music led him to study the violin and viola with some of the great musicians of the day: Samuel Appelbaum, Vladimir Graffman, Richard Burgin, Lillian Fuchs and William Primrose. Before joining the North Carolina Symphony, Dennis was a member of the first violin section of the Florida Symphony Orchestra with Henry Mazer, music director. His legendary sense of humor and inimitable gifts as a conversationalist have entertained his colleagues and patrons of the North Carolina Symphony for decades.’
“In the next days and weeks, many memories of Dennis will be shared among his friends. Anyone who ever met Dennis even for one minute will never forget him.”
Details of a memorial service will be announced in due course.
