Tristan passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday, November 26th, 2021 at a favourite resort on the West Coast of Vancouver Island at the age of 74 after complaining of chest pains. Predeceased by parents Clifford and Shirley, brother Cliff Jr and his dear “Aunt Lolly” Lorraine Parman, his mother’s lifelong high school friend.
Survived by his loving husband of 17 years, Daniel and sister Nancy and by long-time and close friends in Victoria and on Grand Manan Island, and in Canada and America. He was raised in Rockville Center, New York and his talent was discovered at the age of 14 by Howard Barlow, conductor of radio & TV’s Firestone Symphony Orchestra.
Tristan entered the Peabody Conservatory of Music at John Hopkins where he completed a double major in piano & conducting. It was at Peabody where he received the nickname Tristan because he was dating “Isolde” while he conducted the opera. He studied with Herbert von Karajan at the Akademie des Mozarteum in Salzburg, earning a diploma in conducting. He was invited to enter the Westminster Choir College at Princeton where he earned degrees in composition and piano. During this period, he was also a founding member of the chamber music group Northampton Trio.
Tristan was artist-in-residence and a faculty member at the American Boy choir School before becoming the conductor of Offertorium Musicum Choir. He created the opera workshop at St. Mary’s College in Maryland and where he was the assistant to the college president and member of the piano faculty. As pianist, composer & conductor of National Boy choir of America, he helped bring the ensemble to acclaim while touring internationally.
The ensemble recorded six albums. After retiring from the Boy choir, he conducted the New England Vocal Ensemble, directed music at Episcopal churches, presented music clinics and conducted at music festivals.
While living in California he initiated the Stars & Stripes program with the Santa Rosa Orchestra, Sonoma University, and established a choir at a State Prison. In Victoria he was the organist and choir director at St. John the Divine and at Saints Peter and Paul in Esquimalt.
He met Daniel at a potluck in Metchosin when living in Victoria. He then moved to Delaware to be closer to his dying father. After securing Daniel’s address they began corresponding followed by a return visit to Victoria the following year and a stay at a log cabin near Sooke. A visit by Daniel to Delaware in the Spring of 2003 was followed by Tristan’s move back to Victoria in July and marriage in November.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Canadian Red Cross BC Flood & Extreme Weather Appeal www.redcross.ca/donate/appeal/donate-to-the-canadian-red-cross-fund
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Keith Tristan Rhodes August 13 1947 November 26 2021..
mccall gardens funeral and cremation service
Death notice for the town of: Victoria, Province: Colombie britanique