Stephen Gothold dead at 77

Stephen Gothold, 77, died December 5, 2018. After graduating from Whittier College, Whittier, California, Gothold went on to receive a Master of Arts degree in music from Occidental College, Los Angeles, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He also studied at the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart, Germany, with Helmuth Rilling. Other teachers include Richard Lert, Daniel Lewis, Robert Shaw, Frank Pooler, Rodney Eichenberger, and Charles Hirt.

He served as director of choral activities at Whittier College, Whittier, California, from 1977 to 2003. He also taught at the University of La Verne and at University of Southern California. From 1981 to 2018, he directed the City of Whittier’s community masterworks ensemble, Chorale Bel Canto.

Gothold served as president of the Southern California Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, as an officer in the Choral Conductors Guild, and was a host, adjudicator, and clinician for the Southern California Vocal Association for more than thirty years. He also served as musical director/conductor for more than 100 musical theatre productions in professional and university productions. He served as director of music ministries at First United Methodist Church, Pasadena, California, and Westwood United Methodist Church, Los Angeles. Gothold also composed and narrated for an edition of Tajar Tales, a children’s book.