Obituary for Robert Evan Copley
March 22, 1930-Sept. 13, 2018
Age: 88
Residence: Louisville
Dr. Robert Evan Copley was born in Liberal, Kan., on March 22, 1930, and passed away Sept. 13, 2018, in Louisville. He attended schools throughout Colorado. His father, The Reverend Claude E. Copley, was reassigned to new churches every few years as was common practice in the Methodist Church. Rev. Copley served in Eagle, Paonia, Brush and Pueblo. Evan's mother, Elizabeth Blackburn Copley, passed away in 1934, and his father married Marian Stover Copley. Evan never thought of Marian as a stepmother. She was his mom. She taught his first piano lessons, and he played his first church service at age 12 on an Easter Sunday when the pianist didn't show up. He continued playing and composing for worship and conducting church choirs for most of his life. He was organist and Chancel Choir Director at Greeley's First United Methodist Church for 27 years.
Evan was the proud and devoted father of five children and their spouses and partners, Shelley Copley and Joe Anzures, Mark and Penny Copley, Delynn Copley and Pat Hubbell, Vaughn and Ariyani Copley, and Forrest and Jackie Copley; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and maintained close ties with his former spouses, Eleanor Hart Copley, Kay Wilson Boyd, and Warakorn "Timmi" Copley. He graduated from high school in Brighton. His bachelors in music was in piano from The University of Denver, and his masters and PhD in music theory and composition were from Michigan State University. He served in the United States Army, becoming a first lieutenant and company commander in the Quartermaster Corps. He became an expert horseman.
His formal study of music was in piano, music theory and composition. His proficiency in organ "The King of Instruments," was a post-doctoral achievement, and he performed annual organ recitals, premiering numerous organ compositions.
In his 50-year career as a university professor he developed his crafts in performance, composition and the fine art of teaching. He believed that creativity and individual expression are best achieved through mastery of the technical and analytical skills of music – musicianship. He taught at Michigan State University, Iowa Wesleyan College, Oklahoma State University, and for 39 years at The University of Northern Colorado.
Evan was named UNC Distinguished Scholar of the Year in 1986, and in 1991 he was the Composer in Residence at the Bach, Beethoven and Breckenridge Festival. This seven-day festival was filled with his own compositions for orchestra, chorus, chamber ensembles, soloists, pianists and lecture performances. The Greeley Children's Chorale presented his Missa Brevis with the Festival Orchestra.
He wrote textbooks, Harmony – Baroque to Contemporary, Parts I and II with Companion Workbooks; Introduction to Eighteenth Century Counterpoint, and Sight-Singing Practice.
He also penned a book on "common sense," titled Proverbial Wisdom.
During his career he composed a large body of work including: 12 Symphonies, 89 Tonal Preludes for Piano, 12 Preludes and Fugues for Piano, 12 Piano Sonatas, Sonatas for Trumpet Choir, Horn Choir, Trombone Choir, 6 Concertos, 16 quartets, One Sonata for each of 12 Orchestral Instruments, 33 Chamber works, 75 organ works, 75 works for Chorus, a Symphony for Band and a Suite for Band, a folk opera, WILLROG, on the life of Will Rogers, 12 songs for solo voices with piano, 12 songs for children's chorus, and a children's musical play, The Sleeping Beauty.
Evan once said in an interview that the major influence on his musical life was "Brahms, without a doubt. I try to apply a Brahms' aesthetic to the 20th century harmonic vocabulary."
Evan was enduringly grateful to the performers, conductors, colleagues, and teachers who commissioned and performed his works; especially The Greeley Chorale, The Greeley Children's Chorale, The Greeley Philharmonic, The Greeley Chamber Orchestra, The UNC Bands, Orchestras, Choirs, UNC professors and students.
Evan was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Claude E. Copley and Elizabeth Blackburn Copley; stepmother, Marian Stover Copley; and older brother, Archer Claude Copley.
He is survived by his brother, Dr. Nelson Blackburn Copley; sons, Mark Copley, Vaughn Copley, and Forrest Copley; daughters, Shelley Copley, and Delynn Copley; 15 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and a large blended extended family.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, at The First United Methodist Church, 917 10th Ave., Greeley, Colo. Friends may visit at a reception immediately following the memorial service in the Fellowship Hall.
As was his wish, his body has been donated to Medical Science. Friends may donate, if so inclined, to The First United Methodist Church, Greeley, Organ Fund, or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's
Research: fumcgreeley.org or michaeljfox.org.
March 22, 1930-Sept. 13, 2018
Age: 88
Residence: Louisville
Dr. Robert Evan Copley was born in Liberal, Kan., on March 22, 1930, and passed away Sept. 13, 2018, in Louisville. He attended schools throughout Colorado. His father, The Reverend Claude E. Copley, was reassigned to new churches every few years as was common practice in the Methodist Church. Rev. Copley served in Eagle, Paonia, Brush and Pueblo. Evan's mother, Elizabeth Blackburn Copley, passed away in 1934, and his father married Marian Stover Copley. Evan never thought of Marian as a stepmother. She was his mom. She taught his first piano lessons, and he played his first church service at age 12 on an Easter Sunday when the pianist didn't show up. He continued playing and composing for worship and conducting church choirs for most of his life. He was organist and Chancel Choir Director at Greeley's First United Methodist Church for 27 years.
Evan was the proud and devoted father of five children and their spouses and partners, Shelley Copley and Joe Anzures, Mark and Penny Copley, Delynn Copley and Pat Hubbell, Vaughn and Ariyani Copley, and Forrest and Jackie Copley; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and maintained close ties with his former spouses, Eleanor Hart Copley, Kay Wilson Boyd, and Warakorn "Timmi" Copley. He graduated from high school in Brighton. His bachelors in music was in piano from The University of Denver, and his masters and PhD in music theory and composition were from Michigan State University. He served in the United States Army, becoming a first lieutenant and company commander in the Quartermaster Corps. He became an expert horseman.
His formal study of music was in piano, music theory and composition. His proficiency in organ "The King of Instruments," was a post-doctoral achievement, and he performed annual organ recitals, premiering numerous organ compositions.
In his 50-year career as a university professor he developed his crafts in performance, composition and the fine art of teaching. He believed that creativity and individual expression are best achieved through mastery of the technical and analytical skills of music – musicianship. He taught at Michigan State University, Iowa Wesleyan College, Oklahoma State University, and for 39 years at The University of Northern Colorado.
Evan was named UNC Distinguished Scholar of the Year in 1986, and in 1991 he was the Composer in Residence at the Bach, Beethoven and Breckenridge Festival. This seven-day festival was filled with his own compositions for orchestra, chorus, chamber ensembles, soloists, pianists and lecture performances. The Greeley Children's Chorale presented his Missa Brevis with the Festival Orchestra.
He wrote textbooks, Harmony – Baroque to Contemporary, Parts I and II with Companion Workbooks; Introduction to Eighteenth Century Counterpoint, and Sight-Singing Practice.
He also penned a book on "common sense," titled Proverbial Wisdom.
During his career he composed a large body of work including: 12 Symphonies, 89 Tonal Preludes for Piano, 12 Preludes and Fugues for Piano, 12 Piano Sonatas, Sonatas for Trumpet Choir, Horn Choir, Trombone Choir, 6 Concertos, 16 quartets, One Sonata for each of 12 Orchestral Instruments, 33 Chamber works, 75 organ works, 75 works for Chorus, a Symphony for Band and a Suite for Band, a folk opera, WILLROG, on the life of Will Rogers, 12 songs for solo voices with piano, 12 songs for children's chorus, and a children's musical play, The Sleeping Beauty.
Evan once said in an interview that the major influence on his musical life was "Brahms, without a doubt. I try to apply a Brahms' aesthetic to the 20th century harmonic vocabulary."
Evan was enduringly grateful to the performers, conductors, colleagues, and teachers who commissioned and performed his works; especially The Greeley Chorale, The Greeley Children's Chorale, The Greeley Philharmonic, The Greeley Chamber Orchestra, The UNC Bands, Orchestras, Choirs, UNC professors and students.
Evan was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Claude E. Copley and Elizabeth Blackburn Copley; stepmother, Marian Stover Copley; and older brother, Archer Claude Copley.
He is survived by his brother, Dr. Nelson Blackburn Copley; sons, Mark Copley, Vaughn Copley, and Forrest Copley; daughters, Shelley Copley, and Delynn Copley; 15 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and a large blended extended family.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, at The First United Methodist Church, 917 10th Ave., Greeley, Colo. Friends may visit at a reception immediately following the memorial service in the Fellowship Hall.
As was his wish, his body has been donated to Medical Science. Friends may donate, if so inclined, to The First United Methodist Church, Greeley, Organ Fund, or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's
Research: fumcgreeley.org or michaeljfox.org.
