KLAUS GEORGE ROY

WRITER, COMPOSER, CRITIC, TEACHER AND LECTURER

Klaus George Roy (1924–2010) was a musical and cultural “renaissance man”: a writer, composer, music critic, record annotator, radio interviewer, concert narrator, teacher and lecturer. Born in Vienna, Austria, in 1924, he and his parents fled the Nazis, ultimately migrating to Boston, MA, in 1940. It was there that he received a Bachelor of Music degree (Phi Beta Kappa honors) from Boston University followed by Master of Arts degree in composition from Harvard University.

Following graduation, he taught composition and music criticism at Boston University; established BU’s first music library; wrote more than 400 articles and concert reviews for the Christian Science Monitor; produced programs for Boston University’s radio station; and authored articles for Stereo Review, Stagebill and other periodicals.

Roy moved with his family to Cleveland in 1958, where he become program editor and annotator for the Cleveland Orchestra. For three decades, he wrote, edited and produced all publications for the Orchestra (program books, annual reports, press releases, fundraising literature). Every program from 1958 to 1988 contained Roy’s articles and annotations. Roy also presented hundreds of concert previews—informal lectures preceding subscription concerts—and interviewed scores of conductors and guest artists for WCLV broadcasts of Cleveland Orchestra concerts. On the side, he annotated more than 200 albums for Columbia and its Epic label, as well as the Haydn Society, Urania, and the Time-Life record series. In 1975, while still employed at Severance Hall, Roy joined the faculty of The Cleveland Institute of Art, where he taught a course in music for art majors. In 1986 he became adjunct professor at The Cleveland Institute of Music. The following year, CIM awarded him an honorary Doctor of Music degree.

Klaus Roy’s compositional life was equally illustrious: more than 400 pieces and some 130 opus numbers. Orchestras and smaller ensembles around the world have performed his work, and dozens of his works have been formally published.

With love, respect and admiration, his family members dedicate this website to a true artist, humanitarian and “cultural crusader”—one whose fully-realized life-mission was to share the joy, wisdom and fulfillment of the arts.