PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE MOURNS LOSS OF MUSIC PROFESSOR DR. CHRISTIAN ELSER
July 29, 2024
As the Presbyterian College community grapples with the sudden loss of music professor Dr. Christian Elser, colleagues and friends remember not only a passionate voice performer with a booming baritone but a charismatic champion of the liberal arts with a caretaker’s heart for serving students.
Dr. Albert “Christian” Elser III passed away on July 20 at Duke University Hospital in Durham, N.C., after a long battle with interstitial lung disease at the age of 53. He joined the PC faculty in 2008 as a choral director and vocal instructor and, in recent years, directed the college’s annual “Christmas at PC” program.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Elser earned a master’s degree from Northwestern University and a doctorate from the University of Kansas. In addition to his career in higher education, Elser was also an experienced performer and the co-founder and executive director of GLOW Lyric Theater in Greenville.
But to his colleagues at PC, there was more to Elser than talent – and the loss they feel is considerable.
History professor Dr. Stefan Wiecki called Elser’s death “devastating.”
“I started together with Christian at PC in 2008, and I always appreciated his dedication to PC and his students, his quick wit, and his humor,” he said. “Even after he fell seriously ill, Christian’s Instagram posts were always upbeat and funny, even from his hospital bed. I will greatly miss him!”
Dr. Brooke Spatta, a professor of psychology at PC, said Elser’s trademark voice and wit earned him a “larger than life” persona. But Elser was more than that, she said.
“He was a fiercely loyal friend and colleague to me for 15 years, and the world simply won’t be the same without him,” Spatta said. “Over the years, Christian served as a source of guidance, support, and encouragement for countless students, colleagues, and friends without ever seeking praise or recognition for himself. His warmth, compassion, and friendship were gifts to us all.”
Spatta said Elser used his voice to enrich, entertain, and inspire, including calling for addressing social injustice and creating an inclusive and equitable community for all.
“His life was a masterpiece of love, generosity, and friendship that will continue to inspire me, and I’m honored to have called him my friend,” she said.
Fellow music professors Dr. Richard Thomas and Dr. Karen Buckland witnessed firsthand Elser’s influence on the music department, the arts community, and his students.
“Christian was a dedicated educator,” Thomas said. “He was part of our PC music family and brought a lot of energy and personality to our programs. We loved his annual animated Music Theater productions. We are deeply saddened by his unexpected passing. There is a hole in our department that cannot be filled – we will miss him.”
Elser’s passion for teaching was evident in every way, Buckland said.
“He loved his students at PC, and although he was demanding, it was because he saw each student’s potential,” she said. Many times, students had doubts about their abilities, and Christian was able to help them overcome these doubts and fears.
“Christian was an excellent teacher. In addition to sharing his knowledge with students, he encouraged them to expect the best from themselves and to learn how to use the skills he taught to make them better singers and musicians. He understood their individual needs, as well, and gave all of his students the necessary tools to sing the music they loved.”
Elser shared his love of all forms of music in various ways—from his Summer Vocal Camps to his Opera Workshops and as artistic director of “Christmas at PC.” In addition to teaching students individually and in ensembles, Elser also used his connections with other professional musicians to introduce students to various styles and techniques for performance.
In his own words, Elser saw PC as an ideal place for students in every discipline – not just music – to enjoy rich and diverse musical experiences and lessons. In a video recorded last winter, Elser said PC’s small environment paradoxically provided greater opportunities.
“I went to large conservatories, which are fine, but not every student gets to be involved in a large university or a conservatory,” Elser said in the video. “Here, you can come to PC and major in music – we love that – but you could also major in biology and still study music.
“You will not be relegated to a teaching assistant. You will not be relegated to a lesser program. You are in the mix with everyone else, and I have found that to be such a huge boon to our students. Frankly, some of my best students have been majors from other areas who just found their voice and found something amazing that they could do here.”
Even students who do not choose music as a profession benefit from appreciating and learning about music and art, Elser said.
“The arts have the ability to kind of reach into your heart, into your mind, into your soul in such a unique way that it’s so important to foster in today’s youth, and it should never be overlooked, be it the performing arts, which I’m part of or the visual arts,” he said. “Art gives you the ability to speak to our common humanity in a way that might be more receptive than just an argument or a debate, and that’s why I love making art.”
Elser is survived by his parents, Kimberly Elser and Albert Christian (Storm) Elser II, his brother, John (Elissa) Elser, two nieces, Madeleine and Colette, and his partner, Krista Ramirez.
A memorial service for Elser will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at Greenville Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1135 State Park Road, Greenville.
