Elmer Hollis Ramsey (June 3, 1930 – February 9, 2018) was the founder and conductor of Conejo Symphony Orchestra, which was a precursor to the New West Symphony. He also established the Conejo Pops Orchestra. Ramsey was a professor at California Lutheran University from 1965 to 1992. He was the co-founder of the local Oakleaf Music Festival and instrumental in the development of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.[1][2]

Early life

Ramsey was born in North Dakota, but grew up in Kelso, Washington.[3] He graduated from the University of Portland and had his own 1940's-style big band on a Washington radio station. Ramsey later did West Coast tours with singers such as Mel Tormé.[4] He also did studio work for NBC and 20th Century Fox and conducted concerts at venues in the UK, Israel, Germany, and Austria.[5][6] He has performed on The Ford Show and The Jimmy Durante Show.[7]

Ramsey and his wife Elaine and their children moved to Los Angeles in 1956. His California debut took place in 1958 with Ferde Grofe at the Hollywood Bowl.[3] He moved to Thousand Oaks in 1965 in order to become a music professor at California Lutheran University. At CLU he became the director and conductor of the Conejo Symphony Orchestra, and also wrote the university's fight song.[8] Under the direction of Ramsey, the Cal Lutheran orchestra and choir performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion with musicians such as Marni Nixon, Roger Williams, Gordon MacRae and Florence Henderson.[9] He conducted concerts for 18 years at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles.[3]

In 1992 Ramsey received the Don Triunfo Award from the Conejo Historical Society.[3] He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from California Lutheran University in 2009.[2][9]

References

  1. ↑ "Elmer Ramsey memorial service April 28". Callutheran.edu. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Conejo Valley loses its music man". Thousand Oaks Acorn. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2019-03-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "5th annual Valentine's concert slated - The Fillmore Gazette". Fillmoregazette.com. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  5. ↑ "Beloved CLU conductor to be remembered". Thousand Oaks Acorn. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  6. ↑ "Conejo Valley maestro Elmer Ramsey dies". Callutheran.edu. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  7. ↑ "Conejo Pops Orchestra tunes up for farewell to Elmer Ramsey". Vcstar.com. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  8. ↑ "Former Music Director Dies at 87". Cluecho.com. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  9. 1 2 "Conejo's Elmer Ramsey was 'all about the music'". Ventura County Star. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
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