Dr. Delaney! The name inspired true awe in the hearts of her students. She was a powerhouse of knowledge, energy, insights, perfect perfect pitch, spot-on ear, jazz piano, improv like nobody’s business, understanding of students of all ages, and so much more! She was my hero for multitudinous reasons.
The day before a landmark birthday, I sit here wondering how I can encapsulate all she meant to me. I hearken back to a Sunday school birthday party when I was about 12 or 13 (was it my birthday? I cannot recall, but I was obviously impressed by this incident)… One of the mothers present at the party asserted, “I’ve always thought that the mother ought to be the one who gets the gifts and celebration!” I filed that away thinking that one birthday soon I would do just that for my own mother. Alas, it wasn’t to be, as I had few birthdays left before I would lose my mother to cancer, and I was too self-involved at each to remember to fete her. Still, some almost 50 years later, I recall this.
And so today, in timely accord with my birthday and the passing of someone very dear to my heart, I celebrate my “professional mother,” Dr. Carole Jean Delaney, California State University, Sacramento, who just passed from this world 12/28/17.
Once we’d met, she took me under her wing just a bit, even before I was officially in her classes and gaining her music education tutelage. The day I dismally walked into her office determined that it was time for me to quit my Music Degree quest is the day she changed my life. Not only did she think that was poppycock, but she told me to change my piano teacher… something that professionally was a risk for her and I was sworn to secrecy that she’d said that. (Somewhere above, she smiles at me, as we both know all parties involved have passed from this world.) That’s when I went from a mediocre pianist to one who blew away the pre-recital jury who’d heard me before; I even was successful enough at my Senior Recital that I was persuaded to go for my Master’s in Piano Performance. All because Dr. Delaney made it comfortable for me to go to her and she was willing to take the risk to point me in the direction that was right for me.
One time I noticed something about Carole (she made me start calling her that after I’d graduated – but oh so hard because of my deep respect for her) – My goodness, I thought, she’s shorter than I. I’d been with her 2+ years and had never noticed that! WHY? Because she was a bigger spirit than her stature would have you believe. I saw, respected, admired, loved the HUGE heart, mind, and spirit that was Dr. Delaney.
She encouraged me to join Mu Phi Epsilon and helped me get inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda. She mentored me through all my Music Student Teaching. She put in a great word for me when San Juan Unified School District began their “music prep” program in 1985. And even tho’ she didn’t like having her picture taken, (she really put up a fuss each time) she allowed my boyfriend to take a pic of us together at my Master’s graduation. How lucky I am to have that now!
She believed in me so much, I had to start believing in myself! Perhaps that was her greatest gift to me ever! She placed several student teachers with me and wrote me a glowing reference so I could apply to be a Mentor Teacher with the State of California for two rounds of three years each. She encouraged CSUS Music Department to offer me an Alumni Achievement award.
When it was time to move to Maui, she supported me and when the conducting job of the then-Maui Symphony Chorus was offered to me, I consulted with her, and of course she encouraged me to spread my wings. She’d always envisioned my conducting a high school chorus, so this seemed like the perfect fit. Whenever I went back to California, I attempted to touch base with her…. and it was such a meeting around 2006 (? – I really have no idea when this occurred) that I can see clear as day her giving me the news that she had Alzheimer’s. This brilliant human being – brilliant in mind AND spirit – it seemed impossible, yet she confessed it ran in her family. I never got to see her again, sadly. Yet, it doesn’t much matter, because her spirit lives in my heart and in my soul as the person who believed in me when I most needed it; the one who knew me better than I knew myself when it came to being a teacher of excellent transmission of skills and love; the one who knew without doubt that I was cut out to be a fine conductor.
I will always remember with deepest gratitude this woman of integrity, unmatched professionalism, highest music standards, staunch defense of her students… thank you, dear Dr. Carole Jean Delaney.