William Whitson
1939 - August 9, 2001
Residence: Palo Alto, California
William Whitson, founder of the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra in 1966 one of the nation's leading educational chamber orchestras, died Wednesday at his Palo Alto home from cancer. He was 62.
Mr. Whitson was 26 in 1965 when he founded the chamber orchestra, whose members range in age from 12 to 18 years old. Hundreds of young violinists, cellists and pianists coveted spots in the group, which included five 24-piece chamber orchestras: four junior ensembles under the umbrella of a senior orchestra. He was their music director for 36 years.
As concertmaster, Mr. Whitson conducted all five groups and led them on globe-trotting tours to Australia, Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. He led them in more than a dozen professional recordings. Last year, the youth orchestra captured the First Prize in the Chamber Orchestra Division at the 29th International Youth & Music Competition in Vienna. Even on the eve of his death, he was putting together plans for the youth group that he took such pride in.
"He was on the phone the night before he died making arrangements for the coming season," said Margaret Whitson, his wife of 25 years, who met her future husband as a young musician in the orchestra. "When he fell asleep that night, he said: 'Well I think I've done everything I can.' "
Born in Seattle, Mr. Whitson grew up in Palo Alto, where he moved with his family in 1947. While he studied violin with the San Francisco Symphony's concertmaster, his parents joined others to found the California Youth Symphony. Mr. Whitson was one of the symphony's first concertmasters.
After graduating from Palo Alto High School Mr. Whitson was awarded a four- year track scholarship to Drake University in Iowa, where he was a successful long-distance runner; at one time, he was ranked eighth in the nation.
It was while on vacation from Drake that Mr. Whitson's took his first shot at forming the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, in 1957.
He later founded the Palo Alto Junior Chamber Orchestra limiting membership to musicians 18 and younger. The group eventually changed its name to the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra.
Mr. Whitson is survived by his wife, Margaret; sons Michael, a violist who recently graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and David, a sophomore at Washington State University; sister JoAnn Cuddy of Tennessee; and brother Thomas Whitson of Sebastapol.
A musical tribute was held in the fall of 2001. Donations may be sent to the William Whitson Memorial Fund, 4000 Middlefield Road, Suite M-1, Palo Alto, CA 94303.