Lawrence mourns passing of Marjory Irvin, a 'forward-thinking giant among music professors'

Lawrence University is mourning the death of piano professor emerita Marjory Irvin, who taught for 40 years, first at Milwaukee-Downer College and then at Lawrence following the 1964 merger.

She passed away Jan. 21 in Macomb, Illinois, at the age of 99.

Upon her retirement from the Lawrence faculty in 1987, Irvin was described as a “personal force with students, colleagues, deans, and presidents” by then-President Richard Warch.

Conservatory of Music Dean Brian Pertl ’86, a student at Lawrence during Irvin’s time on faculty, said Irvin was ahead of her time.

“She was a forward-thinking giant among music professors,” Pertl said. “At a time when the Conservatory did not have dedicated music theory professors, she modernized the music theory program and patiently mentored the studio faculty on how best to teach theory and aural skills. In the ’80s, when desktop computers were first appearing, she designed theory tutorials and practice applications for the computer.”

Irvin’s role in the merger of Downer and Lawrence was significant.

“The successful merger of Downer and Lawrence was achieved, to no small extent, as a result of your diplomatic skills,” Warch said in a citation presented to Irvin at the 1987 Commencement. “The College and the Conservatory have found common chords of artistic and intellectual harmony as a result of your liberating perceptions.”

Irvin began teaching at Downer in 1948. She continued teaching piano and music theory at Lawrence, and she published a textbook, Perspectives in Music, that brought together the professional and pre-professional worlds of music.

“Your unique and unequalled curriculum in the instruction of common practice music theory plunges headlong into the 21st century with its utilization of advanced computer technology,” Warch said.

A full obituary can be found here. Memorials in Irvin’s honor may be given to Lawrence Conservatory of Music, Marjory Irvin Scholarship, or to Wesley Village in Macomb.