Elaine Hoffman Watts, 85

[alankin]

I want to share a little of the story of my mother-in-law, Elaine Hoffman Watts, who passed away last week at the age of 85 after being ill over the last few months. 

She was a remarkable woman: she came from a musical family and was the first female percussion student to graduate from the Curtis Institute.  She was a third generation musician and was taught percussion by her father, Jake Hoffman, who had played percussion in the Philadelphia Orchestra.  She also played klezmer (eastern European Jewish folk music) as handed down by her father and cornetist grandfather.  And she played timpani for a date with the Count Basie orchestra in the 1960's.

Here are some links. Her obiturary: http://www.philly.com/philly/obituaries/elaine-hoffman-watts-85-noted-percussionist-who-performed-distinctive-19th-century-klezmer-folk-music-20170927.html

A statement from the National Endowment for the Arts: https://www.arts.gov/news/2017/national-endowment-arts-statement-death-elaine-hoffman-watts-2007-nea-national-heritage

A notice from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage: http://www.pcah.us/news/memoriam-elaine-hoffman-watts-klezmer-musician-and-pew-fellow

There are some clips on the bottom of this page: http://www.mastersoftraditionalarts.org/artists/351 as well as on youtube.
 

[HutchFan]

Thanks for sharing this, alankin.  It sounds like she was a very special person.  I'm sorry to hear that she's passed.

[JSngry]

Sorry that she's passed, but very heartened that she left such a legacy. Obviously she was loved. WIN!

[clifford_thornton]

Condolences, but WOW.

Edited October 2, 2017 by clifford_thornton

[alankin]

Thanks, all.

[mjzee]

Baruch dayan emet.  May she rest in peace.

[Cyril]

 Interesting woman !!! My condolences to you and your family.

 

[alankin]

2 hours ago, mjzee said:

Baruch dayan emet.  May she rest in peace.

 

2 hours ago, Cyril said:

 Interesting woman !!! My condolences to you and your family.

 

Thank you both.  She was something else.