Dr. David Fetler has died at the age of 96.

Born in Riga, Latvia, he moved to the US at the age of 12 with his family and went on to study Juilliard, Westminster Choir College, and Eastman School of Music. During his studies, he worked with French conductor Pierre Monteux and Leopold Stokowski.

He was later invited by Eastman School Director Howard Hanson to join the Eastman Conducting Faculty where he presented a wide variety of instrumental and choral music with the Eastman Collegium Chamber Orchestra & Singers.

He went on to Found the Greece Symphony Orchestra as well as the Rochester Chamber Orchestra with players from the Rochester Philharmonic.

Former President and Treasurer of the Rochester Chamber orchestra took to social media and said, “David Fetler passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 96. He was a prominent figure in the classical music world both locally and nationally. He, his siblings, and his parents were predecessors of the famous Von Trapp Family Singers. The Fetler Family Band began performing concerts in their native Latvia and later throughout Europe…Locally, David Fetler was a legend. He spent many decades as a conductor and teacher. His teaching years were at the Eastman School of Music. He was most prominently known locally as long-time music director at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and as music director of the Rochester Chamber Orchestra for over fifty years.”