40 years ago I was in the doctoral program at the University of Kentucky and also one of the band conductors so it was a good time in my life, busy and interesting and although a backwater University, it had faculty that was top drawer..at least in my little part of the world.
One first acquaintace was Donna Boyd (Combs) at that time and she had come to Lexington a few years before me and quit the program out of pure frustration. She was, however, the brightest bulb in the set of lights and was a marvelously gifted performer and scholar. She started a group called "Musica Nova" or new music (duhh) and it was small at the time - perhaps 10 musicians - playing on period instruments and bringing back to life music from 500 years before. We dressed in period dress, did everything that grad students do to make a buck, hung out on Saturday nights to watch Star Trek reruns and eat organic popcorn.
Musica Nova grew to the "Center for Old Music in the New World" and survives to this day. I remember the "business meeting" that drew up the papers. No one knew what it would do but Musica Nova was swallowed up in it and they started giving real deal concerts and the group swelled in numbers and loyal following. A few year's back, Donna was given a recognition award from the University for her immense contribution to scholarship and performance and rightly so.
She died in March and word reached me from one of the "old group" of her passing. Here is her obituary. I loved and admired this woman for what she did for my mind and musical soul, as did many others to whom she gave so very much. She was indeed the brightest bulb on the tree - perhaps the brightest one I have ever known.
"BOYD Donna Mae, died March 14, 2012 with her loving husband Reed Ruchman beside her. Raised in the Finger Lakes region of NY, her favorite childhood years were in Penn Yan on Lake Keuka. As a PK she moved through several NY towns before relocating to Los Angeles, CA when her father was called to Hollywood Methodist Church. It was there that she began working as an organist at age 16. Soon the PK was doing backup vocals in Hollywood sound studios. Donna began taking courses at UCLA before graduating from Hollywood High (Picture a burgundy Corvair Monza convertible tooling up and down Sunset Blvd.) and then transferred to UC-Riverside. (Now see a white Rambler American motoring across the Southern California desert). There she developed a keen interest in early music - along with modern jazz at Shelly's Manne Hole back in Hollywood. She pursued the former because it came without a how-to manual. In Lexington, Donna is known as the founder and long-time director of the Center for Old Music. In 2003, Donna was presented the College of Fine Arts Distinguished Alumna Award by UK, where she ended her "formal" education. She was honored for "shaking the dust off great treasures and creating vibrant, authentic performances recognized by intellectual vision and exuberant spirit." She could play too. Donna was pre-deceased by her parents, Rev. Don and Hazel Boyd. In addition to her husband, she is survived by 3 brothers, Dick (Libertyville, IL), Dann (Valencia, CA) and David (Hollywood, CA); a sister, Beverly (Santa Cruz, CA); and a great bunch of nieces and nephews. The day that Donna passed was the midpoint between her birthday and that of her most beloved composer, J.S. Bach. It was Donna's wish that the Center for Old Music carry on, that it continue as part of the community. Contributions in her memory may be made to CfOM, POB 217, Lex. KY 40588.
Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kentucky/obituary.aspx?n=donna-mae-boyd&pid=156604213#storylink=cpy"
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