David A Battey

BATTEY, DAVID Passed away on September 17th in Hanover New Hampshire at the age of 70. He was born in Chicago Illinois on July 12 1936, the only child of Alvin and Willie Battey. Dave's earliest musical intent was to be a drummer but his parents were not intrigued by this prospect and fortunately they all agreed that playing the french horn would be a much better choice. Dave began his studies with Chicago Symphony member Helen Kotas. Ever the brilliant maverick he did not follow the usual route for aspiring musicians and attend a music conservatory following his graduation from high school but enlisted and served for four years in the Air Force band. He then studied with Philip Farkas and in 1958 attended New England Conservatory where he studied with Paul Keaney and met the love of his life, Mary, a violinist. They were members of the Indianapolis (1959) and New Orleans Symphonies (1960 to 1964) prior to joining the Dallas Symphony in the fall of 1964 - Dave as Principal Horn and Mary in the violin section. Dave served on the faculties of Loyola University in New Orleans as well as SMU and Baylor. He was a wonderful teacher who could convey with equal enthusiasm and expertise the art and passion of music and the physical requirements necessary to master the horn. He co-founded the Dallas Brass Quintet in 1965 and throughout his playing career was much in demand as a commercial and recording session player. For three seasons during the 1970's Dave also worked as Operations Manager for the Dallas Symphony Association (a management position) where his considerable expertise in human interactions and problem solving helped the orchestra through a critical and troubled time in its history. Dave stepped down from the position of first horn in 1974 served as the DSOs second horn with great distinction until his retirement in 1999. He was a trustee of the Orchestra's pension plan and served on liason and negotiating committees, as well as on the executive board of the Dallas Federation of Musicians for 9 terms. Dave was the epitome of kindness and the very soul of graciousness and integrity. He was a brilliant man - a member of both Mensa and Intertel , but very unassuming about his considerable intellectual gifts. His unflagging generosity of spirit, optimism, passion for life, elegance and humor will never be forgotten by those fortunate to have known him. His family and friends would like to thank the wonderful and caring staff and physicians at Hanover Terrace for the superb treatment he received in his last few months. He is survived by Mary, his wife of 46 years, daughter Sybil and her husband Bill Dow, grandchildren Will Dow, Halisaba Wesner and her husband Jeff, and great grandchildren Lydia and Madeline Wesner. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday the 23rd of September at the Church of the Epiphany, Cheney St, Newport NH 03773. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to Mary Battey, PO Box 1187, Grantham NH 03753. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Dave's name to the Alzheimers Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave. 6th Floor, NY NY, 10001