Obituary: Ralph George Laycock

Ralph George Laycock 1920 ~ 2006 Ralph George Laycock, 86, died on April 4, 2006 in Provo, Utah. Ralph was born Feb. 11, 1920 in Raymond, Alberta, Canada to George E. and Fern Redd Laycock. In 1942, he graduated from Brigham Young University and married Lucy Tanner in the Logan Temple. In 1948 he earned a masters degree in orchestral conducting from the Juilliard School of Music; he completed his doctorate at the University of Southern California in 1969. Ralph began his life in music early, learning to play clarinet and trumpet from his father. He organized his own dance band at age 12 and later served in the Royal Canadian Air Force Concert Band during World War II. During the 1948-1949 season, he performed with the Utah Symphony, playing at various times seven different instruments; Maestro Maurice Abravanel called him his "utility in-fielder." Ralph also played professionally in venues such as the Pioneer Memorial Theater and the Valley Music Hall. During his retirement years, he explored the possibilities of expanding the range of the bass recorder. Ralph was an educator, always striving to help musicians reach their greatest potential. After teaching woodwinds at Drake University, he returned to BYU to teach and conduct the Concert Band. He later conducted the Philharmonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, touring with his students throughout the United States, Canada, and China. Ralph frequently adjudicated musical groups at state festivals and guest-conducted All-State orchestras and bands in the western states and Hawaii. For several years he wrote a conducting column for the magazine The Instrumentalist. He wrote numerous arrangements for bands, orchestras, and choral groups, including the Oakland Temple Pageant and the Martin Harris Pageant in northern Utah. He also wrote the arrangements for the first edition of the Simplified Hymns. Utah Valley audiences enjoyed his concerts with the Utah Valley Symphony, concerts in the park with the Provo Municipal Band, and his direction of numerous Broadway musicals, operas, oratorios, ballets, and Messiah sing-ins. Ralph strove for excellence and was a hard-working man of integrity. He and Lucy enjoyed family gatherings with their children, grandchildren, and great-grand children. He was an active member of the LDS Church, serving as a Branch President, teacher, High Councilman, home teacher, temple worker, and ward, stake, and regional music conductor. He became a U.S. Citizen in 1967. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Harold (Lois) Laycock of Provo. He is survived by his wife Lucy; sister Merne (Don, deceased) Livingstone and brother Hugh (Audrey) Laycock of Lethbridge, Alberta; daughters JoLane (Weldon) Jolley of Orange, California; Linda (Bruce) Findlay of Salt Lake City; Claudia Laycock and Elizabeth (Paul) Farnsworth of Orem; and Kathryn (Howard) Little of Pleasant Grove; 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 10, 2006 at the Edgemont Stake Chapel 303 West 3700 North in Provo. Family and friends may call from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary 495 South State Street in Orem, and from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the services. Interment will be at Eastlawn Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sundbergolpinmortuary.com