Oberlin Community Mourns the Loss of Retired Professor Daune Mahy

The Oberlin community mourns the loss of retired Professor of Voice Daune Mahy, who died July 31 in Paris. A beloved teacher and gifted soprano who performed on stages across America and Europe, she joined the Oberlin voice faculty in 1980 and worked with nearly every Oberlin singer during her tenure, which lasted through 2019.

In the days since her passing, many former students and colleagues have paid tribute to Mahy’s enduring presence in their lives. Former student Abra Bush ’96, MM ’97, currently the Dean of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, remembers Mahy’s intrinsic commitment to her students and teaching. “How lucky we were as students of music that we formed relationships with adult mentors at such pivotal moments in our life. Daune’s commitment is a reminder for me that these relationships are the core of what we do, and they have to be valued and honored. I’m grateful that with her I always felt that constant support during student days and long after,” says Bush. “We all have taken pieces of what she gave to us, and we’ve moved through life with those.”

Current Oberlin Professor of Voice and former student Salvatore Champagne ’85 remembers Mahy as one of the hardest working and most generous teachers and colleagues he’s known. “Having been on the faculty when I was a student, she welcomed me with open arms and included me as a teaching colleague in some of her most important and successful initiatives — the High School Vocal Academy and Oberlin in Italy. Her unmatched dedication and energy were instrumental in making the Vocal Studies Division what it is today,” says Champagne.

In performance, Mahy appeared frequently with opera companies and orchestras including the Buffalo Philharmonic, Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, Omaha Symphony, the Rome Festival Orchestra, Opus One Chamber Orchestra, Louisville Bach Society, St. Louis Municipal Opera, and Akron Symphony. She made her New York recital debut at Merkin Hall in 1984 and later appeared at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. From 1980 to 2008, she was principal soprano at Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland. Internationally, she presented recitals in Germany, Spain, and Italy. In 1982 she was the soprano soloist in a nationally syndicated radio broadcast of Britten’s War Requiem, marking the 20th anniversary of that work’s first performance.

For a number of years, Mahy was one-half of the Bell’Arte Duo with fellow Oberlin voice faculty bass-baritone Gerald Crawford. Mahy was a co-founder and driving force behind Oberlin in Italy, which throughout its 30 years routinely attracted internationally distinguished artists, teachers, coaches, and others to work with the program’s gifted pre-professional musicians.

Mahy was born near Sacramento, California. She earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Westminster Choir College. She completed her Doctor of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington in 1978. Mahy is survived by her son Rohan, her grandson Alex, and two great-grandchildren. Read more in Mahy’s obituary.