LOCAL MUSICAL TALENT AND TEACHERS

     Those of us who have been around long enough knew that Stephen Hamilton was a real talent, as an organist.
     The News Republican had a nice story about him and his work in a recent edition.
     Stephen, now Dr. Stephen, BHS-66, was one of three sons, Bob, BHS-57, and Dick, BHS-58, of the late Mr and Mrs. Bill Hamilton, who owned and operated Hamilton Hardware in Boone for many years. Didn't that family move to Boone from Jefferson?
     Anyway, Stephen is concert organist, Minister of Music Emeritus at The Church of the Holy Trinity (Episcopal) in New York City and is in London right now to perform a second recital in historic Westminster Abbey tommorrow, Sunday, October 6.
     Hamilton began piano studies, under Mildred Achenbach, while in the second grade and then, as a fourth grader, began organ lessons with Russell Saunders at Drake University in Des Moines.
     He played his first church service on Christmas Eve at Grace Episcopal Church in Boone and during his high school years, he served as organist at the First United Methodist Church here.
     A Doctor of Music Arts degree in organ performance was earned at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.
     Stephen's impressive resume is much too long to detail here but I, the Kornerman, assure you that he has performed at numerous prestigious venues, perhaps as many in Europe as in this country, and his upcoming schedule includes concerts at Oxford University in England, Phoenix, AZ and New York City.
     In addition to his position at the Church of Holy Trinity in New York City, Hamilton was University Organist at Columbia University for 15 years and taught at Manhattan School of Music and Hunter College.
    When he's not traveling, he calls Minneapolis his home base.
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     The story about Stephen Hamilton and his music has the Kornerman thinking in that same vein.
     Wally Pratt, BHS-55, was a well known local organist......right? Seems to me he was a featured performer up north, like in the Okoboji area?
     Then, back further, I remember a "Buzz" Meyer who used to tickle the ivory in the hallway at Boone High School. I guess his real name was Grant Meyer, BHS-48.
     Mention of Mrs. Achenbach, one of Stephen's early teachers, reminds me of one of her two daughters, classmate, Roma Achenbach, BHS-53.
     There used to be many piano teachers in town. I believe my late aunt Pat Morris gave piano lessons in the Betty Mae Harris days.
     Who were some others?
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     All of Iowa is reeling from the loss of Rev. Allen Henderson of Fort Dodge, who was brutally attacked and died near his Fort Dodge St. Paul's Lutheran church/school Wednesday. Thankfully, the suspect in this tragedy was quickly apprehended.
     Rev. Henderson, 64, is survived by his wife, Kristine, a son, two daughters, two sisters and his mother-in-law.
     He served St. Paul's Lutheran Church, northeast of Boone, for a time until 1999 when he moved to his Fort Dodge position.
     Services are at his "home" church in Fort Dodge today (Saturday) with burial in the Boone St. Paul Cemetery.
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Jay Lindahl, 52, Boone. BHS-86. Earned a degree in hospitality and hotel management from ISU in 1990. Entered the insurance field in 1993 but also owned a DJ entertainment service, a party bus, a bar and had various storage and rental properties. Survivors include two kids, Connor and Kayden, his brother, Joel, and girlfriend Angela McCoy.........Kathy Lawhead-Simpson-Boltz, 61, Mesa, AZ. Formerly of the Ogden area......Richard Prim, 60, Stratford. Survivors include siblings, Nicholas and Barbara Prim of Boone and Paul and William Prim of Stratford.......Josephine Selzer Scott, 82. Grew up in the Ames area but her family moved to Boone  in her early years. BSH-55. Married John Scott. They had three boys and two girls, who survive. A brother and sister also survive. Her main job was as an administrative assistant at Marion Labs in Kansas City..........Monicia Soder, 65, Colo. Ames HS-71. After attending junior college, she and Lawrence moved to Stratford to own and operate Bar None. Later, she worked for Gustafson Glass and then had her own Works of Glass starting in 1998. She retired in 2018. Survivors include a daughter, two brothers and a sister.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.