Page 35 - Mar_Apr23

Maurice Townsend Casey

1932–2022

Maurice T. Casey passed away at the age of 1967 to 2006. He was also founder and direc-
ninety on November 22, 2022. Much of his life tor of the Cantari Singers of Columbus, a pro-
was filled with music. He earned a bachelor’s fessional choir (1983-1995), and conductor of
degree in music education from the University the Columbus Symphony Orchestra chorus.
of Kansas and a master’s in choral conducting From 1983 to 1985, Casey was national
from Columbia University. Casey joined the president of ACDA, as well as serving as Ohio
faculty of the School of Music at The Ohio state president (1975-1977) and Central Region
State University (OSU) in 1967 as director of president (1977-1981). Additionally, Casey was
choruses and conductor of the Symphonic a member of the Robert Shaw Chorale. After
Choir, University Chorus, and Women’s Glee retiring from OSU in 1994, he became direc-
Club. tor of the Robert Shaw Choral Institute, where
In his first year at OSU, Casey founded the he auditioned and prepared choruses for the
University Chorale, a small ensemble featur- Robert Shaw Choral Workshops at Carnegie
ing the university’s top singers, and later in his Hall and the Robert Shaw Festivals in France.
tenure, founded the Scarlet and Gray Show Casey received the Ohioana Library Excel-
Choir. He served as director of music at the lence in Music Award in 1989.
Worthington United Methodist Church from

CHORAL JOURNAL March/April 2023 Volume 63 Number 7 33