The staff and students of the ALHCS Department of Music Concert Band are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of music educator, band leader and flautist extraordinaire, Professor Austin A. Venzen.
Professor Venzen, former Associate Professor of Woodwinds and Music Chair at University of the Virgin Islands, died on Friday, May 15th 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee and was laid to rest on Saturday, May 23rd 2020.
Prof, as he was affectionately known by many, including Anguillian Music Majors who attended the UVI, took special interest in the development of Anguilla’s young music talent.
He travelled to the island on several occasions for recruitment tours, and faculty recitals, as well as to facilitate band workshops during the fledgling years of our ALHCS band programme.
Professor Venzen, and his renowned UVI Concert Band, participated in highly entertaining and educational concerts here on Anguilla, over the years, helping to raise the profile of music study among youngsters.
Quite apart from being merely an instructor of music, he was a mentor, friend, an advisor, a coach, and a father figure to all of his students.
In addition to leaving an indelible impression on the lives of some of Anguilla’s finest music educators, including Kimba Southwell, Shermel Archibald, Chrystal Duncan, Lennox Vanterpool and Ashena DeSouza (deceased), Prof. Venzen continued to touch Anguilla’s music education scene through the coaching of our young ALHCS Concert Band members, as director of the Annual UVI Summer Band Camp — an intense 5-week immersion in discipline, band literature, technique and performance.
The music education fraternity has suffered unspeakable loss by the passing of this selfless educator, humanitarian, activist and talented maestro. We wish to place on record our deepest appreciation for his service, and to offer deepest condolences and God’s blessed love to his wife, Roxy, and the entire family.
Contributed by Lennox Vanterpool
