Irving Cheyette, 94, director of music education

Funeral services were held Feb. 7 in Palm Beach, Fla., for Irving Cheyette, a pioneer in music education who came to UB in 1955 at the invitation of Cameron Baird, founder of the Department of Music, to develop a music-education program in cooperation with the School of Education. Cheyette, professor of music who served as director of music education until his retirement in 1972, died Feb. 3 in Palm Beach at the age of 94.

He earned a bachelor's degree in 1929 and a master's degree in 1931 and became one of the first to receive the newly created degree of Doctor of Education in 1936, all from Teachers College, Columbia University.

The author of 33 texts on music teaching, he was a composer of music for school bands, orchestras and choirs. Trained as a violinist and violist, he was a Fulbright professor in Japan in 1954-55, where he helped to found the Japanese Music Educators National Association. While there, he learned to perform on traditional Japanese instruments and during his retirement continued to give lecture performances on Japanese music and the arts.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Irving Cheyette Prize in Music Education, in care of Endowment and Income Fund Reimbursable Account Services, Room 306, Crofts Hall, Buffalo, N.Y. 14260-7009. The prize is awarded to outstanding UB undergraduate music-education students. Contributions also may be sent to the Ester Ress Institute of New Dimensions of Palm Beach Community College, Palm Beach, Fla.