In Monday’s (5/4) Dayton Daily News (Ohio), Laura Dempsey writes, “Charles Wendelken-Wilson, longtime conductor of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and a popular and enduring fixture in the area’s classical music scene, died Sunday morning, May 3, 2009, at Hospice of Dayton. He was 71. According to longtime friends Steve and Rachel Bankey, Mr. Wendelken-Wilson had been in declining health for some time; death was from natural causes. Mr. Wendelken-Wilson became the DPO’s second music director, taking the reins from founding director Paul Katz for the 1975-76 season. He remained at the podium for 12 years, starting a subscription Pops series in 1978-79 and spearheading the still-popular All Orchestra Night Concerts. In 1990, Mr. Wendelken-Wilson became artistic director and conductor for the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra; most recently, he acted as music director for Dayton Public Radio (WDPR 88.1), where he hosted an afternoon show, and an occasional conductor with the Dayton Opera.”
Posted May 6, 2009
