Beverly Ann Antis
Beverly Ann Antis died peacefully Sunday after a valiant six-month fight with pancreatic cancer.
She is survived by one goddaughter, many friends and the thousands of lives she touched during her musical careers.
She was born in Meadville on Nov. 10, 1948. She was preceded in death by her mother, Myrtle I. (Fosnaught) Antis, and her father, Edward Antis.
Beverly only had two job interviews over her long career and was successfully hired at each one. She interviewed for the Butler School District during her senior year at Westminster College in 1970 and began a 35-year career as an elementary choral music teacher. She worked in the Bon Aire, Clearfield, McQuistion and Emily Brittain Elementary Schools.
Later in her public school career, she was also the musical director and rehearsal accompanist for over 10 years with the high school musicals.
Outside of school, she was very active with the Musical Theater Guild, Butler Symphony and Butler Little Theatre. Many people will recall that Beverly was the miracle worker behind the seating chart at Butler Little Theatre. She efficiently accommodated personal requests and made it all “fit.”
Beverly was also quite adept at mathematics and had a high level of computer skills. She taught basic computer classes in the community and also trained many administrative assistants in proper formatting and various tricks of the trade.
After her retirement from the Butler School District, Beverly attended her second interview and was hired as the staff accompanist in the music department, Swope, at Slippery Rock University. She worked there for the last 10 years, up to the time of her death. She specialized in “collaborative” piano and played for all the choirs, many ensembles, performance hours, juries and recitals. Although she was a piano/voice major at Westminster College, she said that the repertoire she learned “in retirement” was the most challenging and oftentimes the most fun.
She was known as the accompanist who could read the conductor's mind and help interpret for the student the easiest way to correct, learn or perform music at a level many did not think they could achieve. She was fond of saying to those she worked with, “counting is a fine art.”
Before her college and professional success, Beverly began her musical journey at the age of 5 in her hometown Lutheran Church choir. She said this choral experience shaped her life choices and her ability to work professionally, respectfully and fairly with a volunteer choir.
Beverly was a “church musician” for 50 years. She had been the music director for Covenant Presbyterian Church for the last 12 years. She delighted in bringing chant, beautiful a cappella pieces, and of course music from her friend and liturgical composer, Dr. Robert Lau.
ANTIS — A memorial service for Beverly Ann Antis, who died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 230 E. Jefferson St., Butler.Included in the service will be a combined choir directed by Dr. Stephen Barr of Slippery Rock University and ministerial leadership by Pastor Kimberly van Driel and the Rev. Dr. James E. Swanson. A reception will follow in the assembly room.In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Slippery Rock University, Music Department, Swope Hall, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Boylan Funeral Home and Cremation Center of Connoquenessing Township, 856 Evans City Road.Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.
