With the passing of renowned musician Marshall Turkin, his sons—Brad, Scott and Troy Turkin—wanted to find a fitting new home for the special Steinway & Sons piano that their father played for 54 years. After deliberating, the brothers decided to generously gift their father’s favorite piano to Lynn University's Conservatory of Music.
"The donation of his piano to the university was what he would have wanted,” said Scott Turkin. “And it is the most fitting final resting place for it."
A jazz legend
Marshall Turkin, composer, arranger and performer, had a passion for the arts. He was introduced to music in Kansas City, Missouri during the Great Depression. After seeing a friend with a musical toy instrument, he was hooked. Turkin's fascination with the toy inspired his father to buy him a used clarinet. The clarinet purchase was just the beginning. His grade school band teacher taught him the basics of how to play and read music. By the following year, Turkin was in the school band.
Turkin went on to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees in music and composition from Northwestern University. He completed postgraduate training at the Juilliard School and Columbia University. Turkin also proudly served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Throughout his career, he served as the general manager of the Honolulu Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony. Additionally, he became executive director of Chicago Symphony's Ravinia Festival, Cleveland Orchestra's Blossom Music Center and the Detroit Symphony.
Turkin finally retired in South Florida and gave concerts with his Turkin Classic Jazz Ensemble and created the classical chamber music series "Mostly Music" as well as the "American Songbook Series" at Lynn.
With all his accomplishments, being a father was one of the most important roles for Turkin. The brothers remember him as a loving and talented parent, who beautifully played the piano many nights at their home.
"I have very fond memories of my dad and that Steinway & Sons piano," said Brad Turkin. "He purchased it in the late 1960s and was very proud of it. He played it frequently when he would come home from work."
Honoring a legacy
At Lynn, conservatory students receive a full-tuition scholarship. Instruments are important and necessary donations for the university. Gifts in kind, like Turkin’s piano, provide students quality instruments to practice intricate music for student recitals and upcoming performances. It's contributions like these that allow talented students to continue to thrive in their academic journey.
Marshall Turkin was no stranger to financial hardships. During his final year of college, he had no financial support. Turkin depended completely on what he earned at jazz gigs after school and on weekends. This was much of the reason why Turkin took so much interest in Lynn’s Conservatory of Music. He wanted to help aspiring artists thrive as musicians.
"My father would tell students to strive for what they want," said Troy Turkin. "His motto was 'your attitude will determine your altitude so stay committed, work hard and remain positive'."
Conservatory students aren’t the only learners at Lynn to benefit from Turkin’s contributions. He also founded the Maestro Marshall Turkin Honors Award, which provides a $1,000 tuition award that benefits an undergraduate student interested in promoting civility and citizenship.
"My father always wanted to pay it forward," said Troy. "We hope that students will learn how passionate he was towards education and music. He was an optimist until the day he passed."
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