Wallace M. Dunn, age 85, died on November 3, 2010. He served as organist at First Presbyterian Church in Wichita for 40 years (1966–2006). He earned both bachelor and master of music degrees from the American Conservatory of Music of Chicago, and a doctor of musical arts degree with honors from the University of Southern California, where he held membership in the Pi Kappa Lambda honorary music fraternity. Dr. Dunn studied organ with Frank VanDusen, Edward Eigenschenk, Mildred Andrews, and Irene Robertson. He was a winner of the Society of American Musicians National Organ Playing Competition in 1951, and was chosen by Leo Sowerby to appear as a featured organ soloist with an ensemble from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at St. James’ Cathedral in a program sponsored by the Chicago AGO chapter.
Wallace Dunn served on the faculties of the University of Wichita (Wichita State), the University of Texas, Tabor College (Kansas), and Friends University (Wichita). He served twice as dean of the Wichita AGO chapter. First Presbyterian Church, Wichita, Kansas, honored him with the title of Organist Emeritus, and named the new sanctuary organ as the Dr. Wallace M. Dunn Sanctuary Organ.
Frank Cedric Smith died October 12, 2010 in North Eastham, Massachusetts. Born in Brooklyn, Smith became a choirboy at the age of eight and sang in some of the leading New York-area choirs; he also sang with the Bretton Woods Boychoir in New Hampshire, later becoming its accompanist and assistant conductor. Following his return from army duty in World War II, Smith studied with Norman Coke-Jephcott and Alec Wyton at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. He served as organist and choirmaster at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark for 14 years, and at Grace Church in New York City for 32; there he developed a boy choir and founded a community chorus. Smith served the New York City AGO chapter as dean and treasurer, and holds the AGO’s Choirmaster certificate; he was also a life member of the Association of Anglican Musicians. Frank Cedric Smith is survived by his wife of fifty-two years (and musical partner),
Dilys; sons Derek (wife Lynne), Geoffrey (wife Jayme, children Bennette and Emily), brother David (wife Eve), and many nieces and nephews.
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