Converse Mourns the Death of Lynn Stalnaker, Interim Dean of the Petrie School of Music

Converse faculty, staff, and students mourn the death of Lynn Stalnaker, Interim Dean of the Petrie School of Music and Instructor of Woodwinds at Converse College, who died on Friday, May 24 following an extended illness. Mr. Stalnaker served for the past year as Interim Dean of the Petrie School of Music at Converse College and had been a member of the faculty and administration since 1972. His contributions to Converse College were many, and he will be missed.

“Lynn cared deeply for Converse College and was an unwavering advocate for the students and programs in the Petrie School. He was dedicated, steadfast, and methodical in all he did here. After many years of service, there has become a part of Converse that was Lynn Stalnaker. That part of Converse will truly be missed and can never be replaced,” said Converse President Nancy Gray.

“Lynn has long been an asset to Converse, but especially this past year during our search for a Dean of the Petrie School. He graciously took the helm and went far beyong the call of duty to keep the Petrie School running smoothly in absence of permanent leadership,” said Tom McDaniel, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.

A native of Auburn, AL, Mr. Stalnaker received a Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from Auburn University in 1964, and a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati in 1966. He pursued doctoral studies in clarinet at Boston University from 1966-1969, and additional study at the University of Cincinnati in 1970-1971.

He had performed as a member of the Arkansas Orchestra, the Asheville Symphony, the Brevard Chamber Orchestra, the Spartanburg Symphony, the Converse Sinfonietta, and in numerous chamber and solo appearances on and off the campus.

He taught clarinet and saxophone, Woodwind pedagogy, and orchestral literature in the Petrie School. In addition to his duties at Converse, he had served on the faculty of the S.C. Governor’s School Academy as Woodwind Instructor since 1994. Professional memberships included the International Clarinet Association, the American Musicological Society, and Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Eta Sigma honorary societies. His other interests included computers and woodwind instrument acoustics and repair.