David Nott

Professor of Music Emeritus David Nott Dies at 70

December 17, 2004

David Nott, professor of music emeritus at Illinois Wesleyan University, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. His death resulted from complications ensuing from surgery last July for cancer of the bile duct. He was 70.

A Memorial Service will be held at Calvary United Methodist Church in Normal, on Towanda Avenue and Raab Road, on Tuesday, December 21, at 1:30 p.m. East Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of interment arrangements. A celebratory event is being planned for 2005. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family for use in a special commemorative fund.

A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Nott graduated from Carroll College, earned a master’s degree in sacred music from New York’s Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music, and received the doctor of musical arts degree from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.

Prior to Illinois Wesleyan, Nott’s teaching career included positions at Yankton College, Hastings College, Monmouth College, and Simpson College.

In becoming Director of Choral Activities at Illinois Wesleyan University, where he was a professor for 31 years, Nott brought even greater notoriety to an already distinguished choral program. Among his accomplishments was extending the annual choral commission project, making it the longest such program in the country. His yearly tours with the Illinois Wesleyan Collegiate Choir took that group to all corners of the United States, and recordings with the Choir received critical acclaim.

Nott organized, and frequently led, presentations of the monuments of the Oratorio repertoire by Bach, Handel, Haydn, and Brahms, among other composers. These performances, as well as the solo recitals he frequently offered, were regular highlights of cultural life in the Bloomington-Normal area. As a teacher of voice and conducting, he had a number of students who have gone on to enjoy distinguished performing and teaching careers.

Nott had extensive choral experience, including membership in the Robert Shaw Chorale, the American Concert Choir, and the Choral Arts Society. He also appeared many times as bass soloist in performance of Handel’s Messiah as well as in numerous other oratorios.

Many of Nott’s former students have become performers and choral directors and include Grammy-award-winning soprano Dawn Upshaw, who is married to Nott’s oldest son, Michael.

Since his retirement from IWU, David devoted greater energy to his interest in automobiles, and became the proprietor of Preferred Motors, 1002 North Main Street, in Bloomington.

Nott's parents, Hermann and Florence Nott, preceded him in death. Also preceded in death was his sister, Carol. He was survived by his wife of 38 years, Anne Foster Nott of Mackinaw and his children, Michael (Dawn Upshaw) of New York; Ruth, also of New York; Edward (Krista) of Terre Haute; William of Normal; Elliott of New Hampshire; his sister Mary (Roger) Sackett of Bellevue, WA; and his father-in-law, Alvin Foster of Henry. The family also includes five grandchildren as well as several nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.