The Department of Music and Dance is sad to announce the passing of Lynn Klock, 75, beloved longtime saxophone professor at UMass, on August 16, 2025.
Mr. Klock, who served at UMass from 1980 until his retirement in 2014, instituted the popular annual Saxophone Symposia, which offered faculty and guest artist classes and performances in both the classical and jazz areas, and drew hundreds of saxophone students and enthusiasts to UMass over the years. Upon his retirement, he started the Lynn Klock Saxophone Fund to provide annual scholarships to UMass students.
Mr. Klock was an enthusiastic participant in new music for the saxophone. He had nearly 100 compositions written for and dedicated to him. He premiered works by Pulitzer Prize winning composers Lew Spratlan, and as part of a consortium, Gunther Schuller, Michael Colgrasss, and John Harbison. Other composers that have written for him include UMass' Salvatore Macchia, Yusef Lateef, and Robert Stern, as well as Hsueh-Yung Shen, Marc-Antoio Consoli, Brian Balmages, David Jex, Catherine McMichael, Samuel Hazo, and Clifton J. Noble Jr.
As a soloist, Professor Klock appeared in Russia, Eastern Europe, South America, Great Britain, Singapore, British and American Virgin Islands, Canada, and throughout the United States. He had the distinction of being the first saxophonist to be presented on the Warsaw Philharmonic Recital series in Warsaw, Poland, and the first saxophonist to tour with Musicians from Marlboro. Of his New York debut in Carnegie Recital Hall, Peter G. Davis of the New York Times wrote, “Mr. Klock performed in the most skillful fashion…What impressed one most was how expertly Mr. Klock demonstrated the versatility of the instrument, its potential for weaving smooth legato lines, its flexible dynamic range from delicately whispered pianissimo to forceful dramatic statements without any loss of tonal quality, and its virtuoso ability to clearly articulate even the most rapid figures….Lynn Klock assembled a program that had a considerable amount of expressive variety and sheer musical charm.” His recordings can be heard on the Albany, CRI, Open Loop, Gasparo, Mark, and Orion Labels.
As a Selmer Artist/Clinician, he presented masterclasses at national and international conferences as well as educational institutions across the United States and overseas. He was the principal saxophonist and bass clarinetist in the Springfield Symphony Orchestra from 1976 until his death. Graduates of his program at UMass hold positions in the United States Military Bands in Washington D.C., and teaching positions in Great Britain and every level of education in the United States. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Interlochen Arts Academy, Klock's teachers included Larry Teal, Donald Sinta, and Jack Kripl.
Professor Klock was married to former UMass Horn professor Laura Klock, who also retired in 2014. Lynn and Laura attended Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst, MA, where he was a member of the Finance Committee and assisted with projects of the church’s Haiti Ministry. Friends and family are cordially invited to a Celebration of Life at Grace Church on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 1:00 pm.
In remembrance of Lynn, contributions may be made to The Klock Saxophone Studio Fund at UMass Donate Here or to The Haiti Ministry of Grace Church, Amherst, MA, supporting St. Matthew’s School in rural Haiti at www.gracechurchamherst.org