Marvin Clarence Zoschke died at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, on Thursday, January 20, 2011, at the age of 89. Marvin was born December 13, 1921, in Junction City, Kansas, to Clara and Charlie A. Zoschke on a rural farm. 

During his youth he started playing the violin and found his life-long passion.  Marvin’s mother always listened to him practice.  During high school he was valedictorian and maintained 1st chair violin.  He played at many local events and his church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church.  The Zoschke family was very active in that congregation.  

He matriculated to the University of Kansas, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts in Music.  Before finishing college, he served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.  A bomber pilot, on the B-25 “Mitchell,” he had flown 73 combat missions in the South Pacific when the war ended.

Upon completing his Bachelors degree, he moved to Evanston, Illinois, to study violin at DePaul University with Paul Stassevitch, a pupil of Leopold Auer.  (Auer taught many of the prominent classical violinists of the time, including Jascha Heiftz and Nathan Milstein.) Marvin also received a Masters of Music in Music Education from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, during those years.

After Illinois, Marvin went to work for the University of Mississippi “Ole Miss” University Extension.  He and Arnold Brown, (his future business partner) were hired to promote and teach the bowed string instruments.  At one of his first 5th grade schools, he had over 350 students signed up to start playing in orchestra.

Marvin soloed for William Faulkner’s daughter’s wedding while in Mississippi.  Marvin’s boss H.G. commented to him after the wedding, “Marvin, I think Mr. Faulkner enjoyed your performance, because he talked to you more than anyone else.”

He also worked at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, even doing some conducting while he was at Phillips, driving him to hone his skills by taking some courses at Columbia Teachers College in New York City.

In early 1955, Marvin and Arnold Brown were introduced to a Baldwin Piano & Organ representative who asked them to consider a franchise available in Beaumont, Texas. Marvin would say, “we had to look on the map to see where Beaumont was!”

Mr. Zoschke and Mr. Brown opened Baldwin Piano Center in October 1955 in downtown Beaumont, Texas.  They moved in 1960, to the current location, 33 North 11th Street, Beaumont.  Over the years the store has expanded the business to encompass every facet concerning pianos, from service to piano lessons. Other manufacturers, including Yamaha and Roland, asked him to add their lines to the store, which he accepted.

Marvin married Lou Anna Faulk and had two children, Robert and Renee.  They were raised in Lumberton, Texas.  Robert followed his dad at the Piano Center and Renee pursued elementary education, teaching in the local public schools.  She stepped down from teaching to look after her dad his last two years. Both describe him as a loving and compassionate father. 

Over the years Marvin continued to be an active musician in Beaumont.  Most prominently, he was the Concertmaster for the Beaumont Symphony Orchestra, beginning in 1955. He served under conductors Jay Dietzer, Edvard Fendler, and Dr. Joseph Carlucci.  He also was Concertmaster for the Lake Charles Symphony for one season.

Marvin was very active in other music organizations: the Beaumont Music Commission, Beaumont Civic Opera, Lamar University, and many other area groups over the years.

Classical music always gave him immense enjoyment.  The local public radio station, KVLU, was his companion.  Marvin would usually stop his work when a particular violin solo caught his attention.

Another love of Marvin’s was any animal he encountered; at any customer’s house, their pet would be his instant friend. 

An avid football watcher, Marvin enjoyed any college or professional game.  A close game with two good teams was a wonderful pastime.

Many organizations, associations and churches gave Marvin accolades over the years.  National Association Musical Merchants (NAMM) recognized him with an achievement award in 2005.  The Beaumont Enterprise wrote a biography of him in February 2004 as a feature.

Marvin continued working at the store into 2011, answering the phone, greeting and visiting anyone coming by the store. His words of knowledge and wisdom were engaging to all. 

Music was his passion. Music was his life.  And he loved sharing it with everyone.

Marvin is survived by his son, Robert Zoschke and his wife Alex of Nederland; his daughter, Renee Zoschke of Lumberton; sisters, Betty Carpe, of Chesapeake, Virginia Rachel Odgen, of Abilene, Kansas; and a brother, Gordon Zoschke and his wife Joan of Junction City, Kansas.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Lou Anna; his parents; a sister, Wilhelmina; and a brother, Charles. 

By JANE MCBRIDE  THE ENTERPRISE

Music surrounds Marvin Zoschke, but then, it always has. Growing up on a farm in Kansas without a radio or television, Zoschke learned that if a family wanted music, they had to make it. He and his siblings all played instruments. His was the violin. “I heard someone play a violin in church when I was 4 years old. It was quite a revelation to me,” he said. “When I was 9, my folks gave me a violin which served as both my birthday present and Christmas present, which made me happy.”

Zoschke also got to hear music when he visited his uncle, who had an RCA Victrola and a few records. Zoschke’s favorite was the music of violinist Jascha Heifetz. “He was pretty much my idol,” Zoschke said.

Although the 82-year-old classically trained musician with impeccable credentials hasn’t been able to play the

violin for two decades, he still makes music for others. Zoschke, owner of The Baldwin Piano & Organ Center

since 1955, served as concertmaster for the Beaumont Symphony Orchestra, as it was then known, for 9 years. A concertmaster is the principal first violinist for an orchestra.

Zoschke earned his Master of Music from Northwestern University. He also studied at DePaul University with Paul Stassevitch, the man he credits with developing his talent. Zoschke taught violin at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and at Phillips University in Enid, OK, where he was conductor of the Enid-Phillips Symphony Orchestra. He studied conducting for two summers at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York. During time spent at the University of Mississippi’s extension music program, he was the violin soloists for a youth concert with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra and had the honor to serve as the soloist for author William Faulkner’s daughter’s wedding in Oxford.

His boss, who was at the wedding reception dinner, said, “You should feel pretty good. You’re the only one Mr. Faulkner talked with all evening, not once, but twice.” The conversation was brief, Zoschke acknowledged with a smile. “He said, ‘I just want you to know how much

my daughter enjoyed your playing.’”

Zoschke and his business partner, Arnold Brown, now deceased, were looking for a teaching opportunity in 1955 when they ran into a Baldwin sales representative in Mississippi. “He suggested we look into a Baldwin franchise which was available in Beaumont, Texas. We had to look on a map to see where Beaumont

was.” The franchise had lasted 48 years. His son, Robert Zoschke, now is co-owner.

Robert Zoschke said he remembers his father practicing concert pieces. “We always had music in the house.”

Marvin Zoschke said he understands the value of having a parent who loves music. “I didn’t realize how lucky I

was to have the best audience in the world, my mother. She put such a premium on music. Music is a universal language. Every life needs music. Just listening is a part of it but playing an instrument or vocalization is important. It can be inspirational. It can be relaxing. One woman I know said her piano is better than all the nerve medicine in the world.”

Robert Zoschke said that music, regardless of the genre, makes people “more well-rounded.” “I feel it is a tragedy that music is being taken out of the schools as it is. It broadens your mind, helps with confidence, coordination and concentration and is something you can do at any age.”

The elder Zoschke had to give up playing the violin 20 years ago because he no longer can lift his arm. That

loss doesn’t hurt as much as one might imagine, he said. “It doesn’t bother me because I learned to play the

violin to my satisfaction, thanks to that wonder teacher in Chicago. That doesn’t mean I don’t respond to music. I don’t need to be a performer. There’s a world of satisfaction in hearing a great composition played by a great artist. “We finally meet our demise,” he added, “but the music survives.”