Zachary Burrage-Goodwin

COLUMBIA - Zachary Burrage-Goodwin, a senior-year music student at the University of South Carolina, and a resident of Weston, Massachusetts, died tragically in a motorcycle accident on August 25, 2015 in Columbia, South Carolina. A compassionate and free-spirited young man, Zach lived life to the fullest, pursued every adventure with gusto, and accomplished a great deal in his twenty-two years. Zach was born on September 16, 1992 in Newton, Massachusetts, coming into the world with a smile on his face-- a recollection his family clearly remembers. Initially shy in his early years, he grew into a charming, charismatic, easy-going and funny young man, and he made friends wherever he went. Zach was sensitive, empathetic and supportive. He was socially aware, and held strong political convictions, ironically passing away six years to the day (and hour) after he shook President Obama’s hand at a seaside restaurant in Martha’s Vineyard, on Cape Cod. He spent many hours with his friends, debating politics or religion over beer at his favorite Columbia nightspots, or texting news articles of interest to his family. He loved classic cars, and worked for two summers at Boston Sportscar in Weston, MA. He loved to go to classic car shows with his grandfather. Zach was a talented musician who had aspirations to become a music teacher and/or a sound engineer. In high school, he studied violin with Bo Hwang of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and cello with Ron Lowry of the Boston Pops Orchestra. He was the principal cellist in the Weston High School Chamber Orchestra, a member of the Rivers School Conservatory Youth Orchestra, a member of the Weston High School Chorus, and a member of the Handel and Haydn Society Young Men’s Chorus. In 2009, Zach was the bass soloist in the Mozart Coronation Mass with the Weston High School Orchestra. He performed in the pit orchestra for a variety of high school musicals, including The Wiz, The Stories that We Weave, and Into the Woods. Zach attended the Florida State University Orchestra Camp and Soundfest Chamber Music Camp with the Colorado Quartet for many summers. He participated for several years in the competitive Massachusetts Eastern Senior District Festivals, and in 2010 and 2011, he participated in the Massachusetts All-State Music Festival at Symphony Hall in Boston. As a culmination of his high school years, Zach was accepted in 2011 as one of seven bass vocalists from Massachusetts to attend the highly selective MENC All-Eastern Chorus in Baltimore, Maryland. While in high school, Zach taught introductory cello to inner-city Boston elementary school students with musiConnects and the Boston Public Quartet. He performed with his sisters in the Burrage-Goodwin Chamber Trio, at weddings, in nursing homes, school events, and fundraisers. He worked for Relay for Life as part of the American Cancer Society, and he was a mentor for Best Buddies, an organization that assists people with intellectual disabilities. In 2009, he received the Weston High School Community Service Award. In college, Zach studied voice with Jacob Will and Walter Cuttino. He was a bass vocalist in the University of South Carolina Concert Choir, and the University of South Carolina Men’s Chorus, and he performed major works such as the Berlioz Requiem, Brahms Requiem, and the Verdi Requiem. Zach taught cello at University of South Carolina String Project, and he would have completed student teaching in the public schools next year. Zach was a sound engineering intern with Jeff Francis, recording college orchestra concerts, student and faculty recitals, and international recording artists such as pianist Misha Dichter, clarinetist Pedro Rubio, and pianist Ana Benavides. In the summer of 2014, Zach interned in the sound engineering department of the television production company Bunim/Murray in California. He hoped to intern as a sound engineer at the Tanglewood Music Festival next summer. In his short years, Zach led an extraordinarily accomplished life. The family has been receiving an enormous outpouring of kind messages and testimonials from people all over the country indicating that Zach left a huge impression on anyone who knew him. The world has lost one of its brightest lights, and yet we are filled with gratitude to have known and loved this wonderful young man for just a little while. Zach is survived by his twin sister, Lydia Burrage-Goodwin of Columbia, SC, a graduate of the University Of South Carolina School of Music; his younger sister Miranda Burrage-Goodwin, a student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; his parents--Dr. Melissa D. Burrage and Thomas J. Goodwin of Weston, MA; his grandparents--Marilyn (Procknik) and Philip A. Burrage of Middleboro, MA, and Elizabeth (Donovan) Goodwin of Worcester, MA; three aunts and uncles--Cathy A. Goodwin of Worcester, MA, Michael D. Goodwin of Worcester, MA, and Scott E. Burrage of Vallejo, CA. Zach is also survived by a large number of wonderful and supportive friends that he considered to be his family, both in South Carolina and Massachusetts. Zach’s life will be celebrated with music, poetry and reminiscence on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at the Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine Street, Columbia, SC at 2pm. Guests are asked to bring a memory to share. An additional celebration of Zach’s life will occur in Weston, Massachusetts around Thanksgiving. Further information will be forthcoming. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made, in memory of Zachary Burrage-Goodwin, to Weston High School Best Buddies, 444 Wellesley Street, Weston, MA 02493, or musiConnects, 20 Belgrade Avenue, #1, Roslindale, MA 02131 (www.musiconnects.org).