08/27/2017
Recently I discovered well known organist and former classmate at Hartt, James Metzler had passed. I wanted to share his Obituary as his story reflected a talented individual that lived a remarkable life.
James R. Metzler
1947 - 2017 Obituary
James R. Metzler of Sylvania, Ohio, internationally known organist and choral conductor, died suddenly on Friday, May 19, 2017. Born June 20, 1947, in Worcester, MA, Jim was adopted as an infant by Robert and Olga Metzler, and was later raised in foster care by Thelma and Walter Fowler, until he was 18 years of age.
He began his musical career as a boy chorister in the Choir of Men and Boys at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Worcester. While a member of the choir, he began lessons on the church's famous Aeolian-Skinner organ of four manuals and 122 ranks.
He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College and a Master of Music degree from Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford. He had also taken doctoral studies in organ and musicology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. His organ teachers included Henry Hokans, Robert Carwithen, Alec Wyton (improvisation), John Holtz, Marilyn Mason and Martin Neary at Wi******er Cathedral in England. Additional studies were taken at the Royal School of Church Music, Addington Palace in Croydon, England.
Metzler received the Choirmaster's diploma (Ch.M.) from the American Guild of Organists, gaining the highest score in the country, and he has been a winner of the S. Lewis Elmer Award for the highest score of all diploma candidates. He holds a Fellowship diploma from the Cambridge (England) Society of Musicians (FCSM); a Fellowship diploma from the Guild (England) of Musicians and Singers (FGMS); a Fellowship diploma from the Honourable Company of Organists (FHCO), Toronto; and an Honorary Fellowship diploma from the National College of Music and Arts (HonFNCM), London for services to music. In addition, he is a member of the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society and the Royal School of Church Music.
Metzler presented organ recitals in many notable places, including three in Westminster Abbey (London), two in St. Paul's Cathedral (London), as well as in Notre Dame Cathedral (Paris), which he considered to be the highlight of his performing career, Norwich Cathedral (UK), King's College Chapel (Cambridge University, UK), Westminster Cathedral (London), Worcester Cathedral (UK), Ely Cathedral (UK), Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (New York City), Washington National Cathedral (USA) and most recently at the Church of the Madeleine (Paris) in April 2017. Recordings of his organ and choral performances are available at www.YouTube.com/TheCathedralOrganist.
As an educator, he taught on the music department faculties at Mitchell College (New London, CT) and the University of Toledo (Ohio) and at Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI). As a choral conductor, Metzler directed over 25 choral residencies to England, leading the music for more than 100 services in Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, York Minster Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, Durham Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, Norwich Cathedral, Guildford Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, Chester Cathedral, Liverpool Cathedral, St. Martin's-in-the-Fields (Trafalgar Square), Ely Cathedral, Christ Church (Oxford) and St. George's Chapel (Windsor). In August 1995, he was privileged to direct the music for the British VJ Day 50th Anniversary Commemoration Service in York Minster Cathedral.
An avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan, he exuded endless support and enthusiasm for his teams.
Metzler is survived by his wife of 28 years, Diane; two sons, Jeff Metzler and Yurii Fought; father-in-law, Elmer Hetrick of Lindsey, Ohio; brothers and sisters-in-law, Charlie and Julie Schwochow of Fremont, Ohio, and Dave and Nancy Lee of Alva, FL; and nieces and nephews in Ohio, Florida and Colorado. Preceded in death by his adopted parents, his foster parents, and his pets Chloe and Persia.
