John David Grice

© Cheyenne Star

01 May 2008

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

A small gathering met Saturday at Red Hill Cemetery, Hammon, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma to attend graveside service for John David Grice.

It was great to see Mrs. Grice, a beloved retired Home Economics teacher, who now lives near her oldest son, Eddie and family at Morris, Oklahoma. The following is an excerpt from the Dallas Morning News that appeared shortly after David's passing and is worth passing on to those who knew and loved him.

"David Grice, a respected and beloved piano teacher in Plano, died suddenly Sunday at age 60. With his longtime partner, Sam Wong, he was co-director of the Texas Conservatory for Young Artists, a summer program for young pianists that bring in top teachers, from around the world. Mr. Grice also taught piano and music theory at Collin College {formerly Collin County Community College} in a private piano studio. His students won prizes in many competitions and went on to important schools, including the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, the University of Michigan, the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Southern Methodist University and the University of North Texas.

"His students were always first-rate, and his dedication to them was unmatched." said Brian Allison a professor of music at Collin College. "I've known David 30 years, and he never said a bad thing about anybody. He always radiated goodness and such a positive attitude. It's such a shock to all of us, and such a loss."

Karen Austin, a McKinney piano teacher, said: "David was a well-respected man and a really fine teacher. One of his greatest assets was listening. He knew how to listen when people talked, and when people played."

An Oklahoma native, Mr. Grice held degree in piano performance from Oklahoma City University and SMU, and he did postgraduate work at UNT. He had been teaching piano and performing in solo and chamber music recitals since 1970.

In 1986, he was invited to perform and give master classes in China. He was frequently a judge in local and state festivals and competitions, and he gave classes in piano repertory and technique for many music teachers' associations.

A scholarship is being established in Mr. Grice's name at the Texas Conservatory for Young Artists. If you are interested in contributing to the scholarship in David's name send your money to the Texas Conservatory For Young Artists, 4428 Boston Drive, Plano, Texas 75093-5411. Please designate that it is to go to the David Grice Scholarship.

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