Obituary: Halvorson, Marjory

Age 73

Sun., Dec. 29, 2013

HALVORSON, Marjory September 26, 1940 - December 25, 2013 Marjory Halvorson, long- time singer, performer and vocal instructor, peace- fully entered into rest Christmas morning December 25, 2013 after a year long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Marjory was born in Spokane, September 26, 1940 to Walter and Helen Zuger.

Marjory graduated from Pullman High School then received her BA from Washington State University.

In 1961, Richard Halvorson and Marjory were married and were blessed with a son, John born 1964 and a daughter Mary born in 1967.

Marjory continued her education at Fort Wright College earning a Masters in Vocal Performance where she studied with the esteemed voice teacher, Sr. Marietta Coyle, SNJM.

Marjory soon started her professional singing career performing with The Spokane Symphony, Seattle Opera, Spokane Choral Society and Spokane Symphony Chorale.

She was a very active church musician having served as music director at Sacred Heart Parish, Our Lady of Fatima and sang as soloist at Plymouth Congregational Church, First Presbyterian Church, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Our Lady of Lourdes, Westminster United Church of Christ and most recently at St. Aloysius.

Marjory earned a performance certificate from the International Music Institute in Munich, Germany performing German Lieder where she studied with Grammy Award Soprano Elly Ameling and renowned accompanist Dalton Baldwin.

Marjory taught voice for over forty years, producing many great singers, who now perform worldwide.

She began teaching at North Idaho College and Spokane Falls Community College and later at Whitworth University and for the last few years at Gonzaga University.

Marjory founded Uptown Opera which later became Spokane Opera and served as its Artistic Director for 25 years.

In 1990, she married William Graham.

Marjory is survived by her husband William at the home; son John (Marnie) Halvorson and their children: Emily, Jack, Dane, Megan and Riley of Shoreline, Wa; and daughter Mary (Steve) Miller of Eastsound, WA.

She is also survived by her sister, Sandra (Bill) Hostetler and their daughter Cathy.

Rosary will be on Thursday, January 2nd at 7pm.

Memorial Mass will be on Friday, January 3rd at 10am, both services at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral.

Private Inturment to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Marjory’s name be made to the Gonzaga University Music Department or to a charity of your choice.

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