Ovid Young, artist-in-residence at Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, Illinois, passed away August 24 at the age of 74. A 1962 graduate of Olivet Nazarene, he spent his career as a member of the school’s faculty as pianist, organist, composer, and conductor. Appearances in performances were common throughout the United States, as well as in England, Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Canada, India, and the Caribbean.
He performed on the organ in the United States and Europe, and played an integral role in acquiring the Fratelli Ruffatti pipe organ for Olivet’s Centennial Chapel. Music director of the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra from 1974 to 1984, he would also direct ensembles such as the English Chamber Orchestra, English Symphony Orchestra, Seoul (Korea) Philharmonic, Danish Radio Symphony, Aarhus (Denmark) Symphony, Florida Philharmonic, and the symphonies of Denver, Phoenix, and Nashville. His numerous compositions and arrangements have been published by several American publishing houses. He composed scores for several feature-length movies, and was one half of the piano duo, Nielson & Young.
Ovid Young is survived by his wife, Laura (Rees), and two sons, Erik and his wife, Heather, and Kirk.
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