In Monday’s (8/2) Seattle Times, Kristi Heim reports, “George Shangrow, a longtime Seattle classical-music conductor, teacher and radio host, was killed Saturday evening in a head-on collision outside of Winthrop, Okanogan County. Shangrow, 59, was on his way to lecture at the annual Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival on Highway 20 when an oncoming car crossed the center line and struck Shangrow’s car. He died at the scene. Shangrow was founder and music director of Orchestra Seattle and Seattle Chamber Singers, which he began 40 years ago. He had also hosted the nightly radio program ‘Live, by George’ on KING FM, which featured live classical performances by local musicians. Shangrow had a huge influence on the local classical-music community. He also toured and performed on piano and conducted operas in the U.S. and abroad. ‘He was a wonderful man and he brought so much light to everything in music,’ said Stephen Provine, co-concertmaster at Orchestra Seattle. ‘Music in Seattle was amazing because of this man.’ Shangrow, who was on the faculty of the Seattle Conservatory of Music, also taught at Seattle University and Seattle Community College, and he directed music at University Christian Church.”
Posted August 2, 2010
