Dr. Morris Jay Beachy passed away due to complications with Alzheimer’s disease on February 6, 2011. He was born on May 11, 1928 in Nampa, Idaho. The youngest of four children, he put himself through college earning his bachelor’s at Colorado State University where he met his beloved wife of 60 years, Frances, when both were singing in the same college choir. Frances describes falling in love with the tanned, athletic man with sun-bleached blonde hair as love at first sight. They were married in 1950.
Throughout his educational career, Beachy performed as a baritone soloist in operas, oratorios and recitals and started conducting in 1947. He received his master’s at the University of Oregon and was the first student to receive a doctorate in voice at the University of Southern California. In 1957, he joined the music faculty as conductor at the University of Texas at Austin, which at the time had only one choral ensemble. Beachy quickly added nine more during his first year at UT and was also a consultant for the design of the current music building on campus.
Early in his career at The University, Dr. Beachy was recruited to sing professionally in New York City, but devotion and passion of education and teaching kept him grounded in Austin. He also couldn’t see uprooting his wife and two young daughters from the beautiful plot of land just above Bull Creek where he built the family home.
During his tenure at UT, Beachy served on the Conducting Faculty, was Advisor to the Graduate Programs in Choral Music and Acting Chairman of the Department of Music (1974-75).
Internationally, Beachy presented concerts in Europe, the Middle East, Mexico and South America. From 1972 to 1984, he also held the position of Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Cardiff, Wales, Great Britain.
In 1966, Dr. Beachy led his newly founded Chamber Singers on a three-month 90-concert State Department tour to Europe and the Middle East. While in Egypt, he was able to fulfill one of his life-long dreams and climbed the Great Pyramid. Consistently ranked among the best in the nation, the Chamber Singers were gold medal winners at the Villa-Lobos International Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1979.
Morris Beachy was a well known powerhouse on the national and internationally choral scene, admired for his craft as a conductor, his interpretation of the choral literature, and his expertise in training the choral voice. He retired from The University of Texas at Austin in 1993 as Morton H. Meyerson Professor Emeritus but continued to conduct the Austin Choral Union, which performed with the Austin Symphony. Lastly, he founded the Morris Beachy Singers, comprised of many former singers, leading them on three international tours. In 2003, Beachy was inducted into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame.
Aside from his perfection in choral mastery, Morris Beachy was first and foremost a family man. He was a strict but loving and supportive father. As with his students, he shared with his daughters his out-of-this-world analogies, profound musings and interests besides music, from astronomy and archeology to ancient civilizations, foreign languages and poetry. If there was something to explore, Morris would explore it!
He was a born environmentalist, and was instrumental when it came to protecting Austin’s own Bull Creek. He loved our planet Earth and worried openly about its possible demise brought upon by the ignorance of man. He loved animals and worried about polar bears losing their glacial habitat due to Global Warming. On a personal level, there always was a family dog, starting with a tiny puppy he brought home to Frances in his warm pocket. They named her Tosca after one of their favorite operas.
Dr. Beachy was a dreamer, explorer, interpreter, poet, mentor, friend, counselor, father, brother, conductor, musician. During concerts, his singers would often witness misty eyes looking back at them when they would produce the sounds and expression he desired. To achieve the highest and truest levels of music making was always the ultimate goal of his performances.
Dr. Beachy is survived by his wife, Frances, daughters Diana Rutledge and Sylvia Beachy, grandson Spencer Rutledge, brother Dr. William Beachy from Kansas City, Missouri and sister Irene Radford from Williamstown, New Jersey.
Viewing and visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 14 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home.
Members of the Morris Beachy Singers will perform during the 2 p.m. memorial service on February 15 at the Unity Church of the Hills, 9905 Anderson Mill Road.
Graveside services will immediately follow at Capital Parks Cemetery, 14501 North IH-35 in Pflugerville. After the graveside service, a reception will be held at the home of Marilynn and Bob Kline at 6106 Amberly Place, Austin, TX 78759.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the University of Texas at Austin, Butler School of Music: Dr. Morris Jay Beachy Choral Fellowship, 1 University Station, E3100, Austin, TX 78712-0435.
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