Keylor Noland

1914 - 1997

Keylor Noland, a violinist, in his lifetime would win widespread recognition for his talent, beginning in his teenage years and continuing throughout his years as a professional musician. A frequent soloist, he was praised for his musical sensitivity. He taught in two colleges and was a violinist in numerous orchestras.

Noland was born in Washington state, the youngest of three children of Cora M. and Harry B. Noland. While attending Walla Walla College Academy, now Walla Walla Valley Academy, he was invited in his junior year to play first violin in the all-state orchestra and was one of four students selected to serve as concertmasters out of a violin section of 85.

He was then chosen to play, all expenses paid, in the national orchestra, held at what is now the Interlochen Music Camp in Michigan. This group played in the 1932 Chicago World’s Fair. Additionally, he was also offered a half-year scholarship to attend the Juilliard School of Music.

Noland enlisted for military service in September 1944 "for the duration of the war or other emergency, plus six months," listing his occupation as an insurance salesman. He was a member of the 25^th Division Army Band during his year and half in the service and immediately following his discharge taught strings at Emmanuel Missionary College, now Andrews University, for the rest of the decade.

He then taught at Iowa Wesleyan College, where he also conducted the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra. For over fifty years, wherever he lived, he played in orchestras, including those at Walla Walla, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Indianapolis; St. Louis; Denver; Detroit; and Cincinnati.

Noland was a member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for 24 years before retiring in 1985. While in the CSO, he recorded an album, Coming Home, with Chapel Records, which was dedicated to the memory of his first wife, Esther, who died in 1980. From 1956 to 1968, he toured in the summers with the Albert Tipton Chamber Orchestra, a select group of accomplished musicians chosen by Tipton, first flutist of the Detroit Symphony and flute teacher at Meadowbrook and Aspen music festivals.

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Sources: Obituaries, Adventist Review, 24 July 1997; Andrews University alumni magazine, Focus, summer 1997; interview with Boardman Keylor (brother), 21 August 1991; Richland, Washington, newspaper clipping from 1932, unknown date; Chapel Records album liner; 1920 Census Records; World War II Enlistment and Social Security records.