Obituary of Alan Traverse

Alan Traverse, longtime co-concertmaster of the Houston Symphony Orchestra, died Friday in Houston. He was 68. Alan was born in London, England. A child prodigy on the violin, he began studying at the Royal Academy of Music at age 10. In 1959, he joined the Royal Covent Garden Opera orchestra, where began his great love of opera. He later combined his national military service with his work at the opera house, playing cavalry trumpet and violin in the Queen’s Life Guards band by day, and playing with the opera at night. He then played with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for four years, and later served four years as a violinist and assistant concertmaster with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Drawn to the opportunity to lead an orchestra and to live in the region of his family origins, Alan became concertmaster of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. During his time in Liverpool, Alan enjoyed working with the orchestra, playing concertos, and hosting visiting musicians of ever-increasing quality. His career in Liverpool culminated in his acclaimed rendition of the Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams; the night of that performance in 1978, Alan took the train to London and then a flight to Houston to begin work as a co-concertmaster with the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Alan and his family embraced the vitality and opportunity that America and Houston brought. While Alan worked with many talented musicians in Houston, he particularly appreciated the fine musicality of conductor Christoff Eschenbach. He found great pleasure in playing for the Houston Grand Opera, in addition to the orchestral repertoire. On a 1991-1992 sabbatical from Houston, Alan helped organize and lead an international orchestra in Seville, Spain for the World Exposition in 1992. Alan’s musical expertise and leadership abilities brought together musicians from seventeen countries. Alan was proud to have learned Spanish well enough to deliver his farewell speech in that language. Alan resigned from the Houston Symphony in 1997, when he was affected by Parkinson’s disease, but he continued to enjoy the music and friendship of many in the orchestra. Alan turned his attention to composing music and opera. His music was recently showcased at the World Parkinson Congress in Washington, D.C., as an inspiration to all affected by Parkinson’s disease. During his career, Alan was honored to play alongside musicians such as Sir Georg Solti, Maria Callas, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, James Levine, Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Yehudi Menuhin, and some of the world’s principal conductors. He was recently honored as an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, in recognition of his lifetime musical career. Alan lived a varied and interesting life. Golf was a lifelong passion, and with his wife Anne, enjoyed international travel, foreign languages, a vibrant social life, and a wide variety of cuisines. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Anne Traverse, whose grace and strength during Alan’s illness were an inspiration. He is also survived by his four daughters, two sisters, one brother, five grandchildren, and many loving family members, friends, and colleagues. His musicality, his wit, and his love of family will be greatly missed. A celebration of his life will be held at the chapel on the main campus of the University of Houston (campus entrance 13 on Cullen) at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 1. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Parkinson Foundation of Harris County, 7457 Harwin, Ste. 305, Houston 77036, (713) 552-0858.