Robert Schuneman

b. 1934 - d. 2015

Robert Schuneman, music publishing executive and former owner of E. C. Schirmer Music Publishing died on December 4, 2015, in Wayland, MA. He was 81.

Mr. Schuneman was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA and Arlington, VA. He was trained musically in theory, composition, organ, piano, harpsichord, and vocal music. He also received extensive training, and had great interest and experience in, choral and instrumental conducting. Mr. Schuneman studied at State Conservatory of Music and University of Freiburg in Breisgau, Germany, Valparaiso University (MusB, 1956), Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, and Stanford University (MA, musicology, 1958).

Robert's extensive career included working with narcotics addicts in Brooklyn; serving as a church musician in Fort Wayne, IN; Glens Falls, NY; Chicago, IL; and Boston, MA; choral and orchestral conductor in Cambridge, MA; and teaching at Oberlin Conservatory, Boston Conservatory of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, and Westminster Choir College. Mr. Schuneman also served as editor for "The Diapason" magazine for a number of years.

In 1985 Mr. Schuneman and his wife Cynthia purchased E. C. Schirmer Music Company where he had worked as a part-time editor. He became President of the parent company ECS Publishing Company. As president of ECS, Mr. Schuneman oversaw the publications associated with E. C. Schirmer Music Company, Galaxy Music Corporation, Ione Press, and Highgate press. In 1995 Mr. Schuneman began Arsis Audio and went on to master and produce over two-hundred recordings. He also served as conductor of the Philovox Ensemble of Boston.

As a music executive and conductor, Mr. Schuneman and his wife Cynthia traveled broadly, enjoyed time with their family, and also made time for Robert's great enthusiasm for watching and playing soccer. He was active in a large number of professional music organizations including the Music Publishing Association of the United States, and was particularly active in the work of the American Guild of Organists, The American Choral Directors Association, and Chorus America. Mr. Schuneman believed strongly in building lasting relationships with composers and giving composers the room to express their artistic dreams. He was a mentor, guide, and inspiration to many in the music world.

Mr. Schuneman was preceded in death by his wife Cynthia in 2012. He sold ECS Publishing Corporation in 2013 and spent the last years of his life writing, conducting, traveling, and spending time with family, all the while keeping up an active schedule of playing soccer.