In Saturday’s (9/18) El Paso Times (Texas), Doug Pullen reports, “A memorial service for El Paso Symphony Orchestra musician Sam Rhodes will be at 3 p.m. today in the band room at Coronado High School, 100 Champions Place. Rhodes, 53, was principal bassoonist with the orchestra for 17 years. He died of a heart-related illness on Sept. 13 after being hospitalized Sept. 10, the night before he was to perform with the El Paso Opera orchestra. … Rhodes was born in San Antonio and went to high school in Richardson, Texas. He studied music at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Ohio. He joined the El Paso orchestra as principal bassoonist in 1993 under conductor Gürer Aykal. He commuted to El Paso from his home in Tijeras, N.M. … Bassoonist Don Wilkinson will fill in as principal bassoonist for the EPSO’s Sept. 24-25 concerts at the Plaza Theatre, [the orchestra’s Executive Director Ruth Ellen Jacobson] said. In lieu of flowers, Rhodes’ family has requested that donations be made to the El Paso Symphony Orchestra or Sierra Medical Center.”
Posted September 21, 2010
