Donald Spieth of Bethlehem, who died Sept. 1, 2023, at age 81, was a formidable and gracious musical force in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.

Spieth, founder of the Moravian University Orchestra, was music director-conductor for the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra.

He is well-remembered by those in the Lehigh Valley music community.

Ronald Demkee, Conductor, Allentown, Band; Associate Conductor, Allentown Symphony Orchestra:

“It was my good fortune and privilege to have had Don Spieth as a friend and colleague since 1967, the year we both started teaching in Bethlehem, he at Moravian College and I at Freedom High School. It was also the year we founded the Pennsylvania Brass Quintet, an ensemble that performed in area colleges and churches for several decades.

“The Lehigh Valley has lost a wonderful musician, gifted conductor and inspired teacher who has touched the lives of many, be they students in his classroom, musicians in his college orchestra, the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra or audiences who attended his performances. All were enriching experiences.

“As a conductor, he insisted on artistic integrity and high musical standards, and yet was always patient with his musicians-students, amateurs and professionals alike.”

Diane Wittry, Allentown Symphony Music Director, Conductor:

“Don Spieth was certainly a wonderful musician, a good colleague and a person who was greatly respected by everyone that worked with him over the years. He will be missed by all of us.”

Larry Wright, principal trumpet, Bethlehem Bach Festival Orchestra:

“When I was at Juilliard, I was astonished to hear about a fellow student who traveled all the way to Pennsylvania to play gigs. Little did I know that one day I would move to Bethlehem to be part of the classical music scene there. Don Spieth and the LVCO were two of the most important reasons we moved from New York.”

“In addition to bringing many orchestra musicians to the Lehigh Valley, Don brought in internationally-renowned soloists such as Midori, Pamela Frank, Emanuel Ax and Joshua Bell, to name a few. Some, such as the pianist Lang Lang, soloed with the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra very early in their careers and are now internationally-famous.

“Composers, musicians and countless audience members have been the beneficiaries of Don’s vision, dedication and musicianship. For [my wife] Robin [Kani, principal flutist, Bethlehem Bach Festival Orchestra, Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra, Allentown Symphony] and me, Don was one of the most important people in both our personal and professional lives.”

Susan Shaw, principal bassoonist, Allentown Symphony Orchestra, Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra:

“I performed as principal bassoonist in the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra with Donald Spieth throughout the seasons 1996 through 2007. Many years later, I again had the pleasure of performing under Maestro Spieth for special concerts with the Satori Chamber Ensemble and at the Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem.

“Don was always respectful and reassuring to his players. During performances, he demonstrated a calm sense of confidence. I remember looking up at him before many solo passages and being reassured by his eye contact and pleasant smile, as if to send away any performance anxiety and to just allow the music to do its magic. We performed wonderful repertoire along with exciting soloists.”

Andrea Wittchen, harpist:

“When I moved to the Lehigh Valley after grad school at Eastman, the music scene for a harpist was pretty dreadful. Don hired me to play with the Moravian College Community Orchestra on a harp-heavy program, ‘Pines of Rome,’ ‘Afternoon of a Faun,’ and I think some Copland. The orchestra acquitted itself well for a small college orchestra. He was a delight as a conductor.

“Don was a great career booster, too. Once he heard me play, he never hesitated to recommend me to other conductors for jobs and my career took off. Then when he took over as conductor of the Schuylkill Symphony, I regularly schlepped my harp out to Pottsville to play for him there.

“He and Llyena [Boylan, his wife and LVCO executive director] gave us a professional quality orchestra that could hold its own at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center and that by its very existence, raised the level of music performance and improved the treatment of orchestral musicians in all the area ensembles. We all played better. It was contagious.

“I believe the key to Don’s success, aside from his inborn kindness and giant musical talent, was that at heart, he was a teacher, always a teacher. If you didn’t perform something the way he wanted you to, he didn’t rant and rave or make you feel badly. He just explained what he wanted that was different and he worked with you until it got to where you were comfortable and he was happy.”

Simon Maurer, Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra concertmaster:

“It is hard to describe in a few sentences what Donald Spieth has meant to the music world, the Lehigh Valley and Schuylkill County. His main achievements were the 25-year-plus tenure of the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra. I was part of that group for many years and enjoyed the level of soloists Don brought to the Valley, and being able to perform with them eight feet away was literally life changing for me.

“Don was respected by all musicians and admired for his clear vision of what the music should be, no matter the composer.”

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers.To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com