Music community mourns loss of influential teacher in Saskatoon

SASKATOON – The Saskatoon music community is mourning the loss of one its most influential leaders. David Kaplan recently passed away at the age of 91.

Kaplan came to the University of Saskatchewan in 1960 to establish a program in music education. He played a pivotal role in the shaping of the music department and is also responsible for establishing several graduate programs.

He was named head of the department of music in the mid-1960s, a position he held for nearly two decades.

Kaplan was a gifted musician, composer and former conductor of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. He was also the founding chairman of the Saskatchewan Music Council in 1967.

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Over the years, his contributions in the community were recognized by being named a member of the Order of Canada in 2002. He has also received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

The U of S College of Arts and Science says Kaplan was one of the most influential and passionate cultural leaders of the university, city and province.

“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say there is no music teacher in this province who has not had some connection with the music department here that he helped to create, that he helped to grow, that he helped to give national and international significance,” said Peter Stoicheff, dean of the college.

“The main thing is, all the people that he had been able to bring together over the years around a love of music.”

He officially retired in 1990 but continued to teach music and forge meaningful connections with students, which he was known for.

“He had such a boundless enthusiasm for music and the teaching of music that he has had students to this day come back and talk with him about how meaningful his teaching of them was, students from 30, 40 years ago,” said Stoicheff.

A funeral will take place Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Congregation Agudas Israel synagogue in Saskatoon.