Anne Allen

Anne Allen, 94, Retired USD 259 Music Teacher, died Wednesday, September 8, 2021 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Edna Y. Harp; daughter, Sandra Lyon. Survived by her son, Marc Allen of Wichita; daughters, Susan Allen of Dallas, TX, Catherine Consiglio of Wichita; grandchildren, Christian Parker, David, Jonathan, and Joseph Consiglio. A memorial has been established with: Chamber Music at The Barn, 4055 N. Tyler Rd., Maize, KS 67101. Anne Allen was a wonderful musician, composer and music educator. She was born in Enid, Oklahoma and was proud of being an ‘Okie’. Anne started playing piano around the age of four when she was taught to ‘chord’ for her Uncle Guy Young. Uncle Guy rebuilt pianos in Hutchinson, Kansas for a living, so there were dozens in his workshop. Soon after, Anne, or Annie as her Mom called her, began playing for Revivals and working for churches in Oklahoma. She was in middle school and high school and already in demand as a musician. She also played jazz on Oklahoma radio stations as a teenager. Anne was comfortable playing in almost any genre. In 1961 Anne was a single mother with four children ages 4, 7, 9 and 11. She already had two degrees from Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma but she needed to get her certification to be able to teach in the Wichita Public schools. She did that and eventually received her MM in Music Education and Composition from WSU. She worked for USD 259 for decades, with most of her time spent as the Choral Director at Robinson Junior High and East High School. While at East High School Anne raised approximately $22,000 to have the Austin Pipe Organ in the auditorium completely refurbished. Anne also started a long-standing tradition at East of a yearly variety show called ‘Stars for a Night’. She raised the money to have the show performed at Century II so students would understand the experience of working on a stage with professional stagehands and strict rehearsal schedules. Anne was a gifted arranger and composer and made hundreds of arrangements for her choirs, madrigals, and church groups. Anne worked closely with the Music Education area at WSU and helped to educate and guide many young choral students during their student teaching assignments with her. Anne played for many churches in Wichita for over fifty years. Among those churches are Fairview Christian, Broadway Christian Church, University Methodist, Plymouth Congregational, Pilgrim Congregational, Hillside Christian, St. James Episcopal, and Good Shephard Episcopal. Anne also worked for over forty years for Downing and Lahey Mortuary in Wichita. She always said she would write a book entitled “I’ve married them and buried them.” Anne worked for many years for Johnson Music Center (Hutchinson) where she helped sell, demonstrate, and dedicate organs all over the Midwest. She also played at the Kansas State Fair (under the grandstand) for years, traveling each day after school from Wichita, to sit and play the organ for many hours during the evenings of the fair and all day on the weekends. Anne also had a regional reputation of playing for horse shows at the large arenas in Kansas. Anne was a longtime supporter of the Wichita Symphony, Music Theatre of Wichita and a Board Member for Chamber Music at The Barn. She loved classical music. The Messiah was one of her most cherished pieces to listen to, teach and perform. She taught it to many of her choirs and students. Her all-time favorite composer was Johannes Brahms. Her most favorite symphony, without a doubt, was Brahms 1st, with the last movement being the epitome of everything she loved. Anne believed in the awe and power of nature and often sought the healing and peace to be found there. As a passionate, gifted musician and teacher she touched thousands of people’s lives. Multiple recordings Anne made on piano and organ will be uploaded to YouTube in the coming weeks. Anne’s family is also having additional CD’s made of her recordings of Hymns, Gospel and Christmas compilations that will be available for purchase. Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.