“Where Valerie L. Heywood sat in the viola section, there was an empty chair at last Saturday’s Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra concert.… On its seat—a bouquet of flowers,” writes Dale Anderson in Thursday’s (11/7) Buffalo News (NY). “There was a moment of silence, then the orchestra played … Bach’s ‘Air on the G String’ in her memory. Violist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for nearly 35 years, Ms. Heywood died unexpectedly Oct. 31 in her Williamsville home. She was 67. Her last performance with the BPO was at a youth concert the day before her death. Born in Detroit.… She studied with members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra” and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree from the Juilliard School on full scholarships. “She toured and recorded with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Barge Music, the Con Brio Ensemble, the Virtuosi Ensemble, New York City Opera and the American Symphony.… Heywood joined the Buffalo Philharmonic in January 1985 … and became principal violist in 1991. She had been associate principal violist since 2017…. She taught privately, at Bravo music camps and as a faculty member … at SUNY Fredonia and SUNY Buffalo State. Surviving are her husband, Ronald W. Daniels, retired principal bassoonist with the BPO,” and several stepchildren.
Posted November 13, 2019
