James Hejduk

James Hejduk, former Director of Music at Belmont Hill School and Organist-Choirmaster of The Congregational Church in Needham, MA, passed away on September 18, 2023 at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska. Jim was 79 years old. Mr. Hejduk is survived by his sister Laurel (Jim) Van Slyke, sister-in-law Kathy Hejduk, a nephew David (Sara) Van Slyke, and a niece Sandra (Joe) Todd, plus grandnieces and a grandnephew: Camryn Walker and Jack and Anna Van Slyke. He was pre-deceased by his brother Russell. A native of Madison, OH, Hejduk held degrees from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ, and Indiana University in Bloomington. He was awarded a succession of Rockefeller Grants for post-graduate studies in choral conducting at the Oberlin College Conservatory and the Aspen Choral Institute where he also sang in its Chamber Choir. He was the first musician awarded a Klingenstein Fellowship at Columbia University where he studied the organ and developed an inter-disciplinary curriculum focused on J. S. Bach, and studied choral conducting in Cambridge, England and organ in Paris with Marcel Dupré.   Hejduk's teaching career began at The Millbrook School in New York State in 1968. He began his 15-year tenure as Director of Choral Music and Chapel Organist at Milton Academy in 1971, followed by 12 years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 1986-1998 where he was Associate Professor of Music. Returning to the Boston area in 1998, he joined the faculty at Belmont Hill School and resumed his position at the Needham Congregational Church that he had held from 1974-1986. Hejduk began playing church services as a 9th grader in 1958 in his hometown and subsequently served churches in Newark, NJ, Bloomington, IN, Lincoln, NE, & New York City before arriving in Massachusetts.   Mr. Hejduk was a Past-Dean of the Boston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and twice served on its Executive Committee. He was a Past-President of the Nebraska Choral Directors Association and served the Massachusetts ACDA as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Music and Worship. He had also served a term as a member of the Choral Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts. Hejduk sang four seasons with the Robert Shaw Festival Chorus at Carnegie Hall and prepared the Beethoven 9^th Symphony for Shaw for the dedication of the Lied Center for the Performing Arts at UN-L.   With his choirs from Milton, Nebraska, and Belmont Hill, Hejduk toured Romania (three times), the Czech Republic, Latvia, England, Italy, as well as Quebec and New York City. His University Singers from UN-L were invited to perform at several ACDA and MENC conventions. Locally, he played organ recitals at Needham, Milton Academy, Memorial Church at Harvard University, Trinity Church, Old West Church, and The Brooks School.   After returning to Lincoln to retire, Hejduk maintained a busy life largely centered on music. He served two terms as Sub-Dean of the Lincoln Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and followed that with a 3-year stint on its Executive Board. He also made semi-annual trips to Princeton, NJ where he served a 6-year term on the Alumni Council of Westminster Choir College. He was also the Class Agent and fund-raiser for WCC's Class of '66. Jim was the organist for many years at Lincoln's First Church of Christ Scientist and continued to attend conferences, symposia, and conventions allied to choral and organ music. He traveled twice to Brazil and was a frequent visitor to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. An avid classical concert-goer and patron of arts, he had subscriptions to and supported Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra, The Lied Center, Abendmusik, and the Lincoln Organ Showcase on whose Board he served as a Co-Chair. He particularly enjoyed the Metropolitan Opera HD productions at The Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center as well as UN-L Opera productions, being a Friend of both.   A graveside service will be held at Fairview Cemetery in Madison, OH on October 14 at 11:00. A memorial service will be held at The First Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln, NE on October 29 at 4:30. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the music programs of Belmont Hill School, Milton Academy or The Congregational Church of Needham, MA. Behm Family Funeral Home of Madison is assisting the family at this time. Online obituary and condolences may be viewed at www.behmfuneral.com