It is with great sadness we share the news of Dr. Robert Molison’s passing Sunday, January 9. Beloved by his students, “Doc” Molison was the director of Choral Activities at Iowa State for over 20 years. His great passion for music and educating students resulted in choirs of the highest artistic quality. Thousands of students benefited from his tenure which included organizing and planning tours throughout the United States and Europe as well as singing with world famous guest orchestras as part of the Ames International Orchestra Festival Association, all while keeping his choirs focused on using that music to elevate their own humanity.
A service is anticipated to occur in the spring or summer of 2022 in Fort Collins, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of donations to:
Robert Molison Scholarship in Music Fund #2703763 c/o Iowa State University Foundation Fund 2505 University Blvd Ames, IA 50010 https://www.foundation.iastate.edu/s/1463/giving/start.aspx.
The full obituary can be found here.
Britten's Hymn to St. Cecilia had special meaning for Doc and many of his singers:
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.
Words by W. H. Auden