Gerald Albert Bales died on July 4 at University Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 83 after a heart attack. Born in Toronto in 1919, Bales was first taught by his mother. He gave a piano recital at age seven and an organ recital at age 13. His teachers in Toronto included Healey Willan. He served as organist and choirmaster at St. Anne's Anglican Church, Toronto; Rosedale United Church, Toronto; St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Toronto; the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Calgary; and the Cathedral Church of St. Mark, Minneapolis. He was professor of organ, choral and orchestral conducting, organ literature, and orchestration at the University of Ottawa from 1971-1984. He formed the St. Andrew's Singers and the Calgary Orchestra and Chorus Association and gave regular performances for the CBC. In 1957 he was chosen as recitalist for the First International Congress of Organists in London, England. In 1974 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and was honored for his contributions to music by being named to the Order of Canada in 1996. He composed music for organ, choir, and liturgy, in addition to scores for film and radio. Funeral services were held on July 10 at St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, London, Ontario.
Lewis C. Bruun, of Williamsport, Maryland, and formerly of Eureka, California, died on August 2, 2002. He was 67. Born on August 29, 1934 in San Francisco, he was a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and also studied at Peabody Conservatory of Music, Baltimore, and the Royal School of Church Music in England. He served as organist and choir director at numerous churches on the East Coast, including Old First Church, Newark, New Jersey; John Wesley United Methodist Church, Hagerstown, Maryland; and most recently during his semi-retirement at St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church in Williamsport, Maryland. Mr. Bruun had played numerous concerts including programs at Washington National Cathedral and National City Christian Church in Washington, DC; the Cadet Chapel at U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York; Academy of Music in Philadelphia; St. Thomas Church, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, and St. Paul's Chapel at Columbia University, all in New York City; St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland; and Westminster Abbey in London. He served on the faculties of Westminster Choir College and Hagerstown Junior College, and was a member of the American Guild of Organists. A memorial service was held on September 7 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Hagerstown, with former choir members and 11 organists participating.
