Tributes to leading musical figure, Fred Dennis, 58 (From Gazette & Herald)

Tributes to leading musical figure, Fred Dennis, 58

11:20am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News

TRIBUTES have been paid to one of Ryedale’s leading musical figures.

Fred Dennis who was 58, died after a short illness at Malton Hospital on Friday.

The Cropton-based choirmaster, conductor, composer and teacher had set up orchestras and choirs, played in bands and led musicians for more than 30 years across the area. He was also director of music at All Saints, Kirkbymoorside, for more than 20 years.

Mr Dennis was a much-loved visiting music teacher at many of the area’s schools, and is believed to have personally supplied pupils with his own musical instruments if they struggled to get their own.

Born in Scarborough, he was a music graduate from Leeds University. A member of Stape Original Band, he also played clarinet, violin, flute, organ and piano.

Mark Brosnan, vicar of All Saints, said Mr Dennis was best known as a talented organist and accompanist.

“Fred was a private, but deeply loyal and generous man. There’s a real sense of loss, but an appreciation of how many people he helped,”

he said.

Mr Dennis’s funeral service will be held at All Saints’ Church, Kirkbymoorside, on Monday at noon.