Fred Orr Wygal Jr.

Fred Orr Wygal, July 7, 1931 - November 8, 2022. Born in Bristol, Va. he was the only child of Fred Orr Wygal, Sr, and Willie Elizabeth Robinson. He graduated from Jefferson HS in Richmond, Va. After a year at Lynchburg College, convinced his father that music would be his chosen field and transferred to Cincinnati Conservatory. Upon graduation, he was offered the position of Choral Director at the opening of the new Annandale HS (1954)Three years later, he transferred to FairFax High School, where he remained as Choral Director, and Department Chair, until his retirement. The widely used choral room, which he helped design, was named in his honor when he retired, in 1983. His contributions to Music, and the Arts, in Fairfax County, were numerous. He and his wife, Lois, were founding members of the fledgling Fairfax Symphony - she a trumpet player, and he, its first manager, and tympanist. Founding Director of the new Fairfax Choral Society, which he directed for 15 years, before being asked to become Artistic Director of the Reston Chorale, from which he retired in 2009, after 27 years. He served as Minister of Music for several area churches, St Mark's Lutheran, Annandale Methodist, Manassas Baptist, First Baptist of Alexandria, and Memorial Baptist., in Arlington. An accomplished soloist, he performed with the Opera Society of Washington, as Bass/Baritone soloist with area choruses, and was privileged to selected to perform with Robert Shaw, in three of his Carnegie Hall Concerts. During the 60's, he could be found singing at Mr Henry's, in Georgetown, with Roberta Flack accompanying, or singing a duet with him, which, at that time, was significant. His choral groups at Fairfax experienced a wide range of musical experiences, from the classical repertoire, to jazz, (and a conductor who played bass to accompany them). He was in great demand as a clinician and adjudicator, both in Canada, and in the States.He is remembered fondly by many of his former students, many of whom have kept in touch with him, with gratitude for lessons learned under his tutelage, and the lifelong gift music brings. After he 'retired', he recorded concerts, and produced CDs, for 20 years as 'Sounds, Reasonable', with the help of his 'roadie' (Ellen) and was the impressive voice of Fairfax (HS) football, for many years. Fred has five children from his former marriage to Lois Sanford - sons - Thomas (Patty) of Millen, Georgia, and Donovan, of Fort Worth, Texas, three daughters - Barbara Lutz (Joseph), of Lewisburg, WV, Ruth Everhart (Bill) of Woodstock, Va, and Carol Kiser, of Elkview, WV. Nine beloved grandchildren, (listed alphabetically), Becca, Chris, Elizabeth, Heather, Josh, Kayla, Katie, Melly, and Zachary. And 7, and 7/9 great grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of more than 46 years, Ellen, and two stepsons, J Michael McFarland, of Fairfax, and Jonathan Sanborn (Michelle) of North Kingstown, RI. Fred's brother-in-law, Dr. Frederick Fox, and wife Gail, live in Harrisonburg, nephews Benjamin (Emmy) Barnard, Vermont, and Jonathan, Rochester, Mn. Cremation was handled by the Pierce Funeral Home, of Manassas. Future plans are pending. Anyone wishing to contribute in his memory may contribute to The Reston Chorale (restonchorale.org) or to a cause one prefers. Last night, The Reston Chorale's beloved Artistic Director Emeritus Fred Wygal passed away. We extend our deepest, heartfelt condolences to Ellen, as well as Fred's entire family. Fred Wygal made an indelible mark on the Northern Virginia music community, as a music educator, co-founder of the Fairfax Choral Society, and as artistic director of The Reston Chorale. Fred came to The Reston Chorale during a particularly difficult time in our history. In early 1983, just a few months after the death of Artistic Director Mary Gay Craig, Fred stepped in to guest conduct The Reston Chorale in Orff’s Carmina Burana. In the 1983-84 Season, Fred Wygal became the Chorale’s fourth artistic director—a role he filled for 26 seasons—and a cherished friend. Throughout the 1980s, ‘90s and into the new millennium, Fred expanded the Chorale’s repertoire, adding jazz and opera choruses to the mix. This video, filmed in 2002 with the Bobs -- a "four-member jazz trio" -- will give you a glimpse of Fred's love of jazz. (Be sure to watch it all the way to the end!) Under his leadership, The Reston Chorale also frequently collaborated with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. During the summer of 1991, he launched Reston Sings!—a community sing series that included Johannes Brahms’ Requiem and Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah. The series earned the Arts Organization Award from Arts Council of Fairfax County (now ArtsFairfax). Between 1998 and 2009, The Reston Chorale premiered 10 new choral works, including Scott Solak's beautiful This Music, which was commissioned to thank Fred for his 26 years of leadership with The Reston Chorale, and to thank him for the gift of music that he gave to so many throughout his career. It premiered on May 9, 2009, as Maestro Fred Wygal conducted his final concert with The Reston Chorale. This Music also expresses what is on our hearts today. If we learn about funeral or memorial service plans, we will share them with you. In the meantime, I hope the video and music included here brings back sweet memories of Fred Wygal, and all that he means to his friends in The Reston Chorale.