Dr. John Harry Kolpitcke

Introduced to the violin as a fifth-grader in his Janesville, Wisconsin public school, “Jack” as his family called him, started his life-long peripatetic journey in the world of classical music. As his musical talent emerged, his school friends nicknamed him “Jascha” after the renowned 20th century violinist Jascha Heifitz.

After earning a Bachelor of Music degree at University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1957, John served an eighteen-month tour as a violinist and violist with the Seventh U.S. Army Symphony Orchestra in Europe performing in Germany, France, Italy and Luxembourg at the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair.

Returning to the U.S. in 1959, he began his life as a music educator, performer and orchestral conductor with a five-year position in the Marinette, Wisconsin public schools. There he met the love of his life, Constance Elizabeth Zachary, whom he married four months later. December 18, 1959 was the start of a 65-year relationship of bliss and miss😂. They had two children in Marinette (delivered by James Boren, M.D. for only $75 each): Karen Elizabeth and Kenneth Eric. Their wonderful neighboring landlords, Cliff, Myrtle and Eleanor Beatty, provided so much never-forgotten support and care for the young family.

After spending four summers back in Madison, John earned his Master of Music degree and moved the family to Albert Lea, Minnesota where John taught and conducted the orchestra in the public schools for three years. He also played principal viola with the Rochester, MN Symphony Orchestra where one concert featured Jack Benny, famous comedic violinist. John also led a Methodist church choir, played bass in the Merrill Mielke Dance Band and tried to be a golfer😏.

Moving into the world of “higher” academia, John started teaching, performing and conducting at University of Wisconsin-River Falls followed by Northern Michigan University in Marquette on Lake Superior. In 1970 the family moved to Ann Arbor where John spent three yeas as a graduate student at University of Michigan and the children enjoyed three years of excellent public schools and an ideal married student housing community.

With a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1973, John’s career led to a faculty position at Georgia Southern College (now University) and conductor of the Statesboro-Georgia Southern Symphony Orchestra. He also played viola with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra and sometimes joined the Augusta, GA and Jacksonville, FL symphony orchestras. As a member of the Empire String Quartet he helped foster music appreciation in students by performing in public schools. He served as an adjudicator for the Georgia Music Educators’ Association and was on the faculty of the Governor’s Honors Program for two summers. John’s best friend in Statesboro was colleague Dr. Warren Fields who allowed John to “help” in his wood-working shop. They suffered together their attempts at golfing and had one memorable experience when Warren deliberately hit a snake with a golf iron.

After twelve years in Georgia when Karen and Ken were out of the nest, John and Constance headed west to Portales, New Mexico and Eastern New Mexico University for a faculty position and a chair in the Roswell Symphony Orchestra. Then two years later, an opportunity arose in Ohio, near where Constance’s family lived, for John to join the faculty of Muskingum College (John Glenn’s Alma Mater in New Concord) and to become Music Director of the Southeastern Ohio Symphony Orchestra that frequently featured international soloists. Buying a home with a billiard table provided good relaxation and entertainment for musical guests and John’s friend and colleague Dr, William McClelland. John and Bill frequently tried knocking golf balls around the hilly Wildfire Golf Course up highway 83. The orchestra frequently performed in nearby Cambridge, Coshocton and Zanesville, Ohio. John formed a string quartet that played in many venues around the area for weddings and other events.

When John decided to retire from SEOSO and Muskingum College, he was invited to fill a one-year temporary position to conduct the Davidson College Orchestra. The location was appealing in that it was midway between daughter in Atlanta and son and family in Ohio, He soon joined the viola section of the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra and played until recent years when physical challenges caused his retirement. During his time in North Carolina, pianist Andris Rozukalns in Hickory, flutist Gay Tatman in Statesville, and violist John formed La Dolce Musica trio that performed for weddings, concerts and other events.

John was a member of the American Viola Society for many years and loved attending many of their conferences in several U.S. cities. He was an avid bridge player, crossword puzzler, Atlanta Braves and Green Bay Packers fan, environmentalist, voter and follower of news, being concerned and disheartened by the current disruption in Washington DC and the global consequences.

John was preceded in death by his parents Harry John and Anna Laura Kolpitcke of Janesville, WI; his brother Gerald (Jerry) Kolpitcke of Martinez, California; and his son Kenneth Eric Kolpitcke of Dayton, OH.

He is survived by his wife Constance of Cornelius; daughter Karen of Atlanta; grandson Andrew (Amanda) of Smyrna, GA; grandson Bryan (Stephanie) of Athens, OH; great-granddaughter, Grace Marie of Smyrna, GA; sister Janice Faber of Janesville, WI; S-i-L Nancy Kolpitcke of Concord, CA: nephew Scott Kolpitcke of Powell, WY; niece Kirstin Kolpitcke of Sacramento, CA; aunt Delores Sherbert of Wausau, WI; cousin Rod Holt of Mayville, WI; and cousin Jim Luedtke of Schofield, WI.

A memorial concert in honor of the life of John with the support of the North Carolina Youth Orchestra is being planned for a future date. Donations to NCYO [a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization] may be mailed to 19701 Bethel Church Rd, Suite 103-147, Cornelius, NC 28031, or go to www.ncyo.com.