In the Oberlin community, there is deep sorrow over the passing of retired professor Daune Mahy
Obituary: Daune Mahy, Beloved Soprano and Voice Professor at Oberlin College, Passes Away
Daune Mahy, a renowned soprano and cherished voice professor at Oberlin College, passed away on July 31, 2025, in Paris, France. She was a faculty member in the Oberlin Voice Department for an impressive 39 years, from 1980 until her retirement in 2019.
Mahy's impact on the Oberlin College Voice Department was profound. She was highly regarded as an exceptional teacher and a dedicated mentor, working with nearly every voice student during her tenure. Her former students and colleagues remember her for her tireless dedication, generosity, and the lasting personal and professional support she provided.
Abra Bush, Dean of the Jacobs School of Music, praised Mahy's intrinsic commitment to students and lifelong mentorship. Oberlin professor Salvatore Champagne noted her role in key initiatives like the High School Vocal Academy and Oberlin in Italy, highlighting how her energy and dedication helped shape the Vocal Studies Division into what it is today.
Mahy was a co-founder and driving force behind Oberlin in Italy, a program that for 30 years brought distinguished artists and teachers to work with Oberlin’s pre-professional musicians, enhancing their international exposure and training. Students and colleagues frequently mention her joyful spirit, quick wit, and deep caring nature, emphasizing how much she enriched their lives both musically and personally.
Born and raised in the United States, Mahy earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Westminster Choir College and completed her Doctor of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington in 1978. She made her New York recital debut at Merkin Hall in 1984 and later appeared at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall.
Mahy performed with various opera companies and orchestras, including the Buffalo Philharmonic, Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, Omaha Symphony, Rome Festival Orchestra, Opus One Chamber Orchestra, Louisville Bach Society, St. Louis Municipal Opera, and Akron Symphony. She presented recitals in Germany, Spain, and Italy, and in 1982, she was the soprano soloist in a nationally syndicated radio broadcast of Britten's War Requiem.
From 1980 to 2008, Mahy was the principal soprano at Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland. For a number of years, Mahy was one-half of the Bell'Arte Duo with fellow Oberlin voice faculty bass-baritone Gerald Crawford.
Mahy is survived by her son Rohan, her grandson Alex, and two great-grandchildren. Many former students and colleagues have paid tribute to Mahy's enduring presence in their lives since her passing.
In summary, Daune Mahy's obituary details her passing in Paris on July 31, 2025, and her 39 years of influential teaching at Oberlin. Her legacy includes a deep commitment to student mentorship, substantial contributions to voice education programs, and a lasting impact on the development and international stature of Oberlin’s Vocal Studies Division.
For further details, you can read her obituary. Her memory will live on in the hearts of her students, colleagues, and the musical community.
While Daune Mahy made a significant impression in the opera and orchestral world, her most profound impact was felt at Oberlin College, where her contributions to education and self-development, particularly in the realm of music and voice, were invaluable. In her free time, Mahy also found enjoyment in entertainment, performing recitals in various countries and collaborating with fellow artists.
