Obituary of Abram Loft

At age 97, renowned violinist, chamber musician, author, and educator died peacefully at home on Feb. 1, 2019. His wife of 67 years, Jill (ne Mildred), died in 2015. He is survived by his 3 children, David (Elizabeth), Peter (Karine), and Marah Loft, as well as by 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grand-children. 

For 25 years (1954-1979), Loft was the second violinist of the world-renowned Fine Arts Quartet, and with them toured internationally and made over 50 recordings. They performed on the Ed Sullivan Show, the Today Show, and for numerous public television and radio series. Loft wrote the program and liner notes and often served as the group’s insightful and engaging spokesman. He then served as chair of the string department and professor of chamber music at the Eastman School of Music (U of R) until retirement in 1986. He wrote many books and articles on chamber music. Loft earned a BA, MA, and Ph.D in Musicology (1950) from Columbia University and taught music history there from 1946-1954. He also taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1963-1979). Honors include distinguished emeritus professorships there and at the Eastman School of Music, the University of Rochester’s Edward P. Curtis Award for Undergraduate Teaching (1984), and the American String Teachers Association’s Distinguished Service Award (1993, individual; 1971 Fine Arts Quartet). He taught at Kneisel Hall summer programs in Maine and abroad until he was 90. He had a significant impact on the performance and dissemination of chamber music throughout the 20th century. His intelligence, humor, and kindness will be sorely missed. 

There will be a memorial concert this Spring 2019. For more about Abe and his concerts, Please click here to visit: The Eastman School of Music Website.