Richard Clarence Wyland, Sr

July 23, 1935 - September 20, 2024 Richard C. Wyland, Sr., "Dick", age 89, formerly of St. Paul and White Bear Lake, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2024 at Jones-Harrison Senior Living in St. Louis Park, MN. Private family services will be held at Elmhurst Cemetery in St. Paul, on November 1, 2024, followed by a celebration of life open house for family and friends at the home of Rick Wyland and Patrick Murphy from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Memorials can be directed to the family or to the American Federation of Musicians. Dick was born July 23, 1935 in St. Paul, MN, and completed his education in St. Paul, graduating from Harding High School in 1953. It was during his high school years that his interest in music was developed. Herbert Matthes, his high school band director, encouraged Dick to consider music as a career. He admired and respected Mr. Matthes greatly, and realized that his support and encouragement directed him towards his career in teaching and performing music. Dick's college plans had to be put off for a year because of financial needs. During this year he worked for Northern Pacific Railroad, and realized more than ever the desire to pursue the study of music. In the fall of 1954, Dick began undergraduate study at Hamline University, and it was here that he met Doralee Davenport and they were married in December 1957. To this union three children were born, Cindy, Lisa and Rick. They divorced in 1998. While attending Hamline, Dick began serious study of the clarinet with J. Cloyde Williams, principal clarinet of the Minneapolis Symphony. He completed this program in 1958 with a B.A. in Music Education. Upon graduation from Hamline, Cloyde Williams encouraged Dick to audition for admission to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. He was accepted and given a scholarship to attend. This was to be the most challenging and also the most rewarding part of Dick's formal music training. Members of the teaching staff were drawn from the Boston Symphony Orchestra and his major teacher and advisor was Gino Cioffi, principal clarinet of the Boston Symphony. The staff was extremely demanding, yet compassionate, and challenged Dick to heights of musical achievement that he never thought possible. This intense love of music and concern for students is what characterized Dick's teaching style for years to come. In the spring of 1960, Dick graduated from the Conservatory with a Master of Music Degree. He wanted to return to the midwest and was offered a teaching position in the White Bear Lake school district, where he taught all levels of instrumental music (elementary through high school) for 40 years. During this time he was also employed on a part-time basis as utility clarinet player with the Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minneapolis Civic Orchestra, Minnesota Opera Orchestra and Canadian National Ballet. This was important to him not only professionally, but also to continually maintain high musical standards for himself and all those he contacted. In the fall of 1969 the Wyland family moved to CA where Dick enrolled at the University of Southern California to begin a year of study while on sabbatical from the White Bear Lake school district. He completed most of the work towards a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, but felt the pull to return to his teaching position in White Bear Lake in the fall of 1970. In the fall of 1975, he began teaching at White Bear Mariner High School, which merged with White Bear High School in the 1983-1984 school year, and became White Bear Lake Area High School. In 1990 he was presented the award of high school "Jazz Educator of the Year" for the state of Minnesota. He said it was important to him because the award was decided on by a vote of other music educators in the state and recognition by his peers was the most valued. It was at the South Campus that he finished his public school teaching career in the spring of 2000. Following his "retirement" he continued to teach and influence clarinet students as an adjunct instructor of clarinet at Bethel University for many years. Dick was also active in and a member of First Lutheran Church, directing the Senior Choir, Junior Choir and Instrumental Music program. In 2002, Dick was united in marriage to Sara Dahl and to this union a son, Andrew, was born. They later divorced. Richard was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Walter and Ella Wyland; and sister and brother-in-law, Virginia and Bill Holm. He is survived by his children; Cindy (Vince) Taylor, Lisa Bloomstrand, Rick Wyland (Patrick Murphy), and Andrew Wyland; grandchildren; Allison Smith, Alec Smith, David (Kayla) Bloomstrand, Matthew (Amy) Bloomstrand, and Jordan Bloomstrand; great-grandchildren; Sullivan Bloomstrand and Miles Bloomstrand; also survived by Doralee Wyland and Sara Dahl-Wyland, nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends, colleagues and former students. Dick touched the lives of many, and his legacy will endure through the countless lives he influenced through his music, teaching, and the love he gave. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten. Private family services will be held at Elmhurst Cemetery, St. Paul. Memorials preferred to the family or to the American Federation of Musicians.

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Richard Clarence Wyland, Sr

July 23, 1935 - September 20, 2024

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