Page 52 - Abraham Lincoln Hearse Narrative

Remembering Eugene “Gene” Power

As we remember the life and legacy of Eugene Power, we
want to take the opportunity to honor and publicly thank him for
conducting the Sangamon Valley Civic Orchestra on April 29, 2015
for the President Abraham Lincoln Hearse Dedication. Beautiful
music echoed throughout the room, setting just the right mood for
the esteemed event honoring our 16th president.
The Staab Family had the pleasure of meeting him in the fall of 2014. Eugene attended Cathedral
of the Immaculate Conception along with our family. We are happy to have known him before his
untimely passing.
Eugene was a musician, teacher, and conductor. He was serving as the Band Director at
Memorial High School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin at the time of his passing in September 2015. Prior to
moving to Eau Claire, he served as the Music Director and Conductor of the Sangamon Valley Youth
Symphony and Civic Orchestra in Springfield, IL from 2013-2015. Some of Mr. Power’s past conducting
appointments were Music Director and Conductor of the Illini Orchestra at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign and Music Director and Conductor of the
McHenry County Youth Orchestras in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
He was a doctoral candidate in orchestral conducting at the
University of Illinois where he made appearances with the
U of I Symphony, Chamber, and Philharmonia orchestras. He
also conducted the Elgin Youth Symphony Philharmonia and
served as a section coach for the East Central Illinois Youth
Orchestra and an ensemble coach at The Chamber Music
Symposium at Allerton Park. In the Spring of 2013 he was
named Music Director of the Philharmonia Orchestra for
one semester, and collaborated with U of I faculty members
Timothy Ehlen and Jonathan Keeble in performances with the ensemble. In the Spring of 2012 Mr.
Power conducted the world premiere of Western Promises with the Urbana Composers Orchestra as
well as the collegiate premiere of Time’s Fool with the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra.
Eugene received his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin-
Eau Claire, where he was the winner of the first annual UWEC Bands Conducting Competition in
2002. Before coming to Illinois, he taught middle and high
school band in Wisconsin and Minnesota for eight years. During
that time he was appointed as Music Director and Conductor
of the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony and also served as
Assistant Conductor for the Chippewa Valley Symphony. He
also conducted Broadway musicals for the Eau Claire Children’s
Theater and the Chippewa Valley Theater Guild. Mr. Power was
also a freelance musician in Wisconsin and Minnesota where he
made appearances with, among other groups, the Jimmy Dorsey
Orchestra and Five by Design.
Eugene’s music and talent has touched thousands of lives
and we are so fortunate that he also blessed ours. On behalf of
the Staab family, Eugene thank you for your dedication to music,
youth, and Illinois. You are gone, but not forgotten.

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