JeffDinsmore

Jeff Dinsmore [photo: Rebecca Thornburgh]

Many of us have now heard of the passing of our friend and colleague, Jeff Dinsmore. Tenor and co-founder of The Crossing, he was its board president for most of its existence, and always its guiding light. He was with director Donald Nally and singers from The Crossing at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on Monday morning, about to rehearse a new piece for a Friday performance, when he died suddenly.

This is such a sad loss for Jeff’s partner Rebecca Siler, his family and loved ones, and for everyone in Philadelphia’s choral community. Jeff had so much to do with the rapid rise of The Crossing through his administrative and technological gifts. I’ll always remember his captainship of the front of the house—when he should’ve been relaxing before singing in a grueling concert, he was seeing to the smooth running of ticket operations. Then, when you turned your head, he was strolling onstage to sing. As Donald writes, in many ways, Jeff was The Crossing. He was a formidable musician, calm, funny, loving, and had the sweetest tenor voice. We’ll all miss him.

The story in the Los Angeles Times is here. Donald Nally’s heartfelt and moving tribute, sent to the extended Crossing family, and including so many of Jeff’s accomplishments, is here. The Philadelphia Inquirer obituary, written by David Patrick Stearns, is here. The Jeff Dinsmore Memorial Fund, to help support Rebecca Siler, has been set up here.