Dr. Jeffrey H. Brandes passed away after battling a brief illness at the young age of 42. He was the founder and director of the Canton Symphony Chorus and Director of Music at Christ Presbyterian Church in Canton. Born in Cleveland, Jeff attended Baldwin-Wallace College at the Conservatory of Music, earned a Master’s from Union Theological Seminary, and secured a doctorate in Organ performance from Ohio State University.
In 1977, Jeff prepared the chorus for the CSO’s first opera production, and in 1984, started the CSO’s longstanding tradition of performing Handel’s Messiah each holiday. His death was announced the day he passed away at the opening of the CSO’s Sunday performance. The first song, Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings, was dedicated to his memory.