Converse Mourns Passing of Longtime Violin Instructor
Portions of this article were written by Lane Filler of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal
Jerrie Ćadek Lucktenberg, who taught violin at Converse from 1960-1984 and enjoyed a distinguished career as both a performer and teacher, died Friday, March 27th.
"I knew of her reputation from the time I was a teen," said Sarah Gunn, former executive director of the Music Foundation of Spartanburg. "Then I had the chance to work with her as an adult. She was the consummate professional and the consummate musician. She could teach a child her first violin lesson, and teach an accomplished musician just as well. Her sense of professionalism is what I will always remember, and her tremendous integrity."
A service celebrating her life will be held Saturday, April 4 at 2:00 PM at the Spartanburg Unitarian Universalist Church. A reception will follow the service at the church. She will be buried next to her mother and father in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee at a private committal service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Dr. Jerrie Lucktenberg Concertmaster Chair Endowment Fund, c/o The Spartanburg County Foundation, 424 East Kennedy Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302.
As a performer, Jerrie literally traveled the world. Her worldwide engagements as violinist and teacher included appearances throughout the continental United States, and Hawaii, Europe, Korea, and Australia, where she held the position of Artist-in-Residence at the Western Australia Conservatorium of Music in Perth.
As the Lucktenberg Duo, Jerrie and former husband George Lucktenberg performed throughout the Southeastern United States as well as in Texas, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. She also performed as soloists with various orchestras, in festivals in England and France, and as an associate faculty member of the Oberlin Conservatory Baroque Performance Institute.
A native of Nashville, Jerrie earned music degrees from The Curtis Institute of Music, the University of Illinois, the University of South Carolina and the Staatsakademie für Musik in Vienna.
Before teaching at Converse, Jerrie taught at the University of Alabama (1953-1956) and the University of Chattanooga (1957-1960).
Jerrie’s students at Converse were known for being national, divisional and state winners in American String Teachers Association and Music Teachers’ National Association competitions.
After teaching and performing in Spartanburg for 23 years, Jerrie left to teach, play and chair the Strings Department at the University of Southern Mississippi for 12 years before returning to Spartanburg with the intention of retiring. Instead, she began to teach private lessons in her home and was named concertmaster of the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, a position she held from 1995-2003.
A recipient of both Fulbright and Ford Foundation grants, Jerrie was also honored with an Excellence in Teaching Award by the University of Southern Mississippi and a Citation of Recognition as Distinguished Alumna of the Year by the School of Music of the University of South Carolina.
Jerrie is survived by her three children, Judy Lucktenberg Arrants (Converse Class of ’79) and husband Bill of Boiling Springs, South Carolina; Kathryn Lucktenberg Pologe and husband Steve of Eugene, Oregon; and Ted Lucktenberg and wife Karen of Spartanburg. Also surviving are five grandchildren. Kate Arrants (Converse Class of 2006), John Arrants, Jonas Pologe, Stuart Lucktenberg and Hope Lucktenberg. Additional survivors include cousin Sonya