Arthur Wolf shared music as his life's work

''Mr. Clarinet" was a teacher, band leader and performer, who didn't stop giving private lessons until he was 93. Former students call him an inspiration.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: October 30, 2009 - 9:04 PM

After a 41-year career of teaching high school music, Arthur Wolf could have retired anywhere. He chose to spend his golden years in the Twin Cities because he wanted to play his clarinet and felt the Cities gave him the best opportunity to do so.

That was in 1985, and for more than 20 years Wolf serenaded concertgoers as a member of the Golden Tones, Moonlight Serenaders, Richfield American Concert Band, the Calhoun-Isles Community Band and the Normandale Community College Band. He also sang bass in the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church Choir and taught woodwind students at his home.

"He did have a busy schedule," said his wife, LuAnn, of Minneapolis. "He loved music for what it was and what it could do for the community."

Known to many as "Mr. Clarinet," Wolf remained active into his 90s, until arthritis forced him to put down his instrument. Until recently, he continued to play the harmonica.

He died Oct. 18 at Redeemer Care Center in south Minneapolis, several days after he had fallen and hit his head.

Wolf was born in Chicago and began playing the harmonica and clarinet as a child.

He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in music education at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He also took graduate-level courses at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, Hofstra University and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, his wife said.

For four years in the 1940s, Wolf traveled the country and played clarinet and saxophone with the Johnny Gilbert and Sherman Hayes big bands. He also traveled to Europe with the American Band Masters to promote American music. As a high school music teacher and band director in Illinois and New York, he had a profound effect on his students.

"He was an inspiration to me," said Norm Duensing, who said he became a music teacher because of Wolf. "He was a very encouraging person. I had a lot of things occur that wouldn't have had it not been for Art."

Wolf had an impact on hundreds of students in the Twin Cities who came to him for lessons. He didn't stop giving lessons until age 93, his wife said.

"That was a bittersweet occasion, when he announced he would retire," former student Andrew Adelmann wrote in a sympathy card. "He coached me effectively; every lesson I learned something new. He coached students to do their best."

Wolf also was generous, said Mary Beth Thompson, whose sixth-grade daughter took a few lessons from Wolf. He sent the girl home with a music stand that was made in Germany, Thompson said.

Wolf once set the words of Psalm 103 to music and had the tune copyrighted, his wife said. He also was an usher for the Minnesota Orchestra WAMSO for about 15 years, and in recent years dug into his "big repertoire of music" to play solo concerts at nursing homes, she said.

In addition to his wife, Wolf is survived by a stepdaughter, Laurie Sieger, of Woodbury, and two step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Amy.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, 511 Groveland Av., Minneapolis. Visitation will begin one hour before services at the church.

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