Lawrence mourns death of retired music professor Bonnie Koestner

Lawrence University is mourning the death of Bonnie Koestner ’72, a retired professor on the Conservatory of Music faculty. 

Koestner, who retired in 2017, died Dec. 3 in Richmond, Virginia. She was 73.

A 1972 graduate of Lawrence, Koestner returned to her alma mater to join the faculty in 2001. She earned tenure in 2006 and worked closely with opera and theater productions.

“As a vocal coach, you have worked tirelessly with students, helping them reach their highest potential,” read a citation upon her retirement, presented at the 2017 Commencement. “The results are performances of great power, grace, and beauty.”

As a student, Koestner performed in her first opera in Stansbury Theater as a member of the first-year class. She went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Music degree.

ln the time between being a student and becoming a faculty member, Koestner earned a Master of Music degree in music education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She served as chorus master, vocal coach, and conductor at the prestigious summer festivals of Glimmerglass Opera and Central City Opera, worked with San Francisco Opera and Florida Grand Opera, served as vocal coach at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and made artistic contributions to many other performing companies throughout the United States.

At Lawrence, Koestner’s many credits included preparing operas ranging from Henry Purcell to Phillip Glass to Benjamin Britten. She also served as a visiting faculty member at the London Centre and at the Florence program of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest.

“Bonnie was an exceptional musician, educator, and colleague,” said Brian Pertl, dean of the Conservatory. “She loved working with young artists and found ways to help them exceed their own expectations. Her legacy will live on in the hundreds of Lawrence students who had the opportunity to work with her.”

An obituary can be found here.