College mourning death of Anne Dean Turk

Kilgore College is mourning the loss of longtime employee Anne Dean Turk, who taught music at the college from 1946-82.

"The Kilgore College family mourns the loss of Anne Dean Turk, who served Kilgore College for 37 years. Anne Turk distinguished herself as a master teacher and she leave a tremendous legacy of fine musicians and teachers who were successful because of her teaching," said Dr. Bill Holda, KC President. "We cherish the memory of Anne and John, both of whom were dear friends of the college."

Services for Mrs. Turk, 88, of Longview were  Nov. 5 at Longview’s First United Methodist Church with Dr. Roy James and Rev. Mike Schutz officiating under direction of Rader Funeral Home.

Mrs. Turk was born May 13, 1924, in Longview to W.C. and Mary Dean and died Nov. 1. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband of 64 years, John W. Turk.

Mrs. Turk graduated from Longview High School in 1940 as one of the 10 honor graduates and member of the National Honor Society, and attended Kilgore College 1940-41, graduated from the University of Texas in 1944 with a Bachelor of Music Degree. She attended Piano Pedagogy Classes at Juilliard School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music in New York City and studied piano with Edwin Hughes at Winthrop College in Rockhill, South Carolina and also with him in New York City plus graduated from Columbia University with a Master of Arts Degree in 1952.

Mrs. Turk taught piano and music theory, 1945-46 at East Texas Baptist University, Marshall, Texas, she also taught piano, theory and piano ensemble course as a member or the faculty at Kilgore College from 1946-82.

Mrs. Turk has been a member of the First United Methodist Church in Longview since 1930, and served on the Music Committee and was Chairwoman from 1962-71.

She served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Longview Symphony League from 1970-80, as secretary of the Board 1972-74, and as Chairman of Piano Concerto Contest at Kilgore College. She was the Regional representative for the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra 1969-71, member of the Board of Directors of the Longview Civic Music Association, and served as Vice-president 1973-74.

She was a member of the Kilgore Music Club and the Longview Music Club, member of the Longview Piano Teacher’s Association since it was founded in 1966, and served as President for 1990-92, and emeritus member of the Association.

She was a member of the American College of Musicians since 1960, and a member of the Board of Judges. Mrs. Turk judged and evaluated piano students throughout the United States including Washington, D. C. and New York City for the National Guild of Piano Teachers since 1962. She presented Piano Workshops and Master Classes in the area and judged many festivals and competitions, and preformed with the Longview Symphony Orchestra, East Texas State University Symphony and Kilgore College Concerto Orchestra.

At Kilgore College she organized and directed the Bach Piano Festival that brought some 350 piano students onto the campus yearly plus instituted a Piano Concerto Program at Kilgore College accompanying her students at a second piano. In 1970 a grant was secured for a small Orchestra of professional musicians to accompany the piano soloist, and so was born a new tradition unmatched by most other two year colleges, that of affording piano students the opportunity to perform with Orchestra in a public concert. Mrs. Turk started the practice of bringing the Kilgore College, twice annually, nationally accredited pianists and workshop specialists to instruct there piano teachers free of charge and to present public concerts with the workshop.

In 1981, she received the prestigious "Piper Professor" award from the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation to recognize outstanding college and University Teachers in Texas.

Mrs. Turk retired from Kilgore College in 1982 and on Dec. 9, 1989, the Applied Arts Building on the Kilgore College Campus was renamed the "Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center."

Mrs. Turk was named "Woman of the Year" by the Longview Federated Clubs in1992-93, and was also a member of the Sante Fe Chamber Music Festival Board of Trustees.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 400 N. Fredonia St., Longview, Texas 75601 or to the organization of your choice.