Chester E. Klee

North Olean History - Chester E. Klee
CHESTER E. KLEE
‘MUSIC MAN OF OLEAN’
“Chester Klee devoted his life to music,
a devotion that promoted music in Olean.”
He was a charter member during the Olean Civic Music Association 1935-36 season and was also president from 1944 until 1981 when it ceased operations. During his tenure as president, Olean gained the reputation as a center of musical culture in Western New York.

Mr. Klee was a native of Rochester, New York where he earned a bachelor of music degree in 1932. The Eastman-Rochester Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Howard Hanson performed his thesis, “Fall of the House of Usher".

In 1936, he began his private music studio in Olean where he taught vocal, organ, theory, composition and piano to the children of the Olean area. One of his students was Beverly Bower, who later became a well-known opera singer for the Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Bower wrote of Mr. Klee at his retirement in 1983, “Chet has been an inspiration to Olean musical circles and especially community concerts for years. He’s truly a special person in the cultural life of Olean”.

Mr. Klee booked Robert Merrill, who was then unknown in the opera world, for an Olean appearance, his first concert in his first tour. In 1983, in a letter written by Mr. Merrill for Mr. Klee’s retirement party, he wrote,” I will remember the early days of my own career and am indebted to Chester Klee for bringing me to your community with the Civic Music Association.”

Chester Klee was happy with his work as organist and choirmaster of St. Mary of the Angels Church, a position he acquired in 1943. Mr. Klee composed music for the Christmas and Paschal Masses that became a tradition at St. Mary’s, as well as the “The Jubilee Mass,” written in 1972, and performed at St. Patrick’s Church in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin to celebrate their 125th anniversary.

Mr. Klee retired as organist at St. Mary’s Church in 1983 and was awarded the title of “organist emeritus” by Rev. Roy Crissey, pastor of the church. He was credited for playing at over 1,000 wedding and 2,000 funerals.

He excelled not only in the music field, but also as an active member of Olean’s Board of Education from 1947 to 1954. He was a charter member of the Allegany Chapter of the American Guild of Organist, president of the Olean Torch Club, wrote a column for the Olean Times Herald, member of the Knights of Columbus as well as many other community organizations.

Chester E. Klee passed away at the age of 84 after a lengthy illness.

Source- “Music Man of Olean” by Rosemary Daley, Olean Times Herald
For more information on the life of Chester Klee visit the Olean Historical and Preservation Society.

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By: Eileen McCartan Smith, Olean, NY All rights reserved.

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