Arthur Poister
Encyclopedia
Arthur Poister was an eminent American organist
, who was especially renowned as one of the country's leading pedagogues of future generations of musicians.
Arthur Poister served as music director at Syracuse University
's Hendricks Chapel from 1948 to 1965, and as organ professor from 1948 to 1967. Decades earlier, he taught for nearly twenty years at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music
, where a large number of famous organists studied with him during their collegiate years.
Poister was at Oberlin until 1948, when he moved to Syracuse University. The move was facilitated in part by the building of several new organs at Syracuse, including a pair of concert instruments and several practice organs. He also had shorter teaching stints at the University of Colorado
, Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia
and Meredith College
in Raleigh, North Carolina
. The Arthur Poister Organ Competition was created in his honor in 1976, and is one of the leading competitions of its kind in America.
Poister's past students have included Fenner Douglas, David Boe
, Roger Nyquist, Elizabeth, Raymond Chenault, Carlo Curley
, Judith Hancock, Donald Sutherland, David Hurd
, Roberta Gary, Leonard Raver and Chris Yorks.
Arthur Poister died in Durham, North Carolina
at the age of 81. During his final years, he had been living in Raleigh
. He was survived by his wife Dorothy, daughter Wendy, son Theodore, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, who was especially renowned as one of the country's leading pedagogues of future generations of musicians.
Arthur Poister served as music director at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
's Hendricks Chapel from 1948 to 1965, and as organ professor from 1948 to 1967. Decades earlier, he taught for nearly twenty years at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, located on the campus of Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, was founded in 1865 and is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the United States. Students of Oberlin Conservatory enter a very broad network within the music world, as the school's alumni...
, where a large number of famous organists studied with him during their collegiate years.
Poister was at Oberlin until 1948, when he moved to Syracuse University. The move was facilitated in part by the building of several new organs at Syracuse, including a pair of concert instruments and several practice organs. He also had shorter teaching stints at the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia
Farmville, Virginia
Farmville is a town in Prince Edward and Cumberland counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,845 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Prince Edward County....
and Meredith College
Meredith College
Meredith College is a liberal arts women's college located in Raleigh, North Carolina. For the 2010-2011 academic year, there were approximately 2,300 students enrolled, including about 350 graduate students, making Meredith the largest women's college in the southeastern United States...
in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. The Arthur Poister Organ Competition was created in his honor in 1976, and is one of the leading competitions of its kind in America.
Poister's past students have included Fenner Douglas, David Boe
David Boe
David Boe is an organist and was head of the organ department of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he taught from 1962 to 2008. He is most notable for his work as a pedagogue, having trained a large number of organists during his time at Oberlin.- Life :Boe attended St...
, Roger Nyquist, Elizabeth, Raymond Chenault, Carlo Curley
Carlo Curley
Carlo Curley is a flamboyant and popular classical concert organist. Self-dubbed "the Pavarotti of the Organ", he is one of only a few concert organists worldwide who support themselves exclusively by giving recitals, concerts and master classes, without any supplement from teaching or church...
, Judith Hancock, Donald Sutherland, David Hurd
David Hurd
David Hurd is a composer, concert organist, choral director and educator.He is a Professor of Sacred Music and Director of Chapel Music at the General Theological Seminary, Chelsea, New York City. He is also the Music Director at the Church of the Holy Apostles, also in Chelsea.Dr. Hurd attended...
, Roberta Gary, Leonard Raver and Chris Yorks.
Arthur Poister died in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
at the age of 81. During his final years, he had been living in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. He was survived by his wife Dorothy, daughter Wendy, son Theodore, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.