Soul of Symphony: Musician who helped create, nurture MSO dies of cancer at 60
Helen Steineker’s name may not have been well known outside the Montgomery arts community — and she preferred it that way — but the people closest to her say she touched more lives through music than could ever be measured.
Steineker, manager of the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra for 26 years, died early Tuesday afternoon after a battle with cancer. She was 60.
MSO conductor, Maestro Thomas Hinds, knew Steineker for 40 years.
“The Montgomery Symphony Orchestra is her creation,” said Hinds, who is now in his 31st season with the symphony. “There are hundreds and possibly thousands of people, over the course of the last 30 years or so, whose lives are better because Helen Steineker was there.”
Just Monday night, Hinds concluded the annual Holiday Pops concert with “Sleigh Ride,” dedicating it to Steineker because it was her favorite Christmas song. Only two months before, Steineker had played in the symphony’s opening night performance; less than a month ago, she was working with the group to prepare for a late November concert.
That did not surprise Sherry Culver Mann, MSO’s office manager, who worked with Steineker for 22 years.
“There was none any better,” Mann said of Steineker, with whom she spent every day at the organization’s office, a historic house on Hull Street in Old Alabama Town. “She would have lived here if she had needed to. She gave all of herself.”
A Montgomery native and graduate of Sidney Lanier High School, Steineker earned her bachelor’s degree in violin performance at the University of Alabama, then earned a master’s degree in the same curriculum at Penn State. After her music studies, she traveled the world, eventually becoming principal violinist of the National Orchestra of El Salvador.
By the time she returned to her hometown in the late 1970s, the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra was in its early stages. She joined, not just as a playing member but also a fervent volunteer in fundraising and recruitment.
When Hinds arrived on the scene he encouraged Steineker, who had by then had earned a degree in public administration, to manage the orchestra.
Mark Bird, an early Steineker protege who is now band director at Tallassee City Schools, witnessed the organization’s swift evolution as Hinds took the conductor’s baton and Steineker coordinated nearly everything behind the scenes, including concerts for tri-county area sixth-graders, the annual Broadway Under the Stars concert at Blount Park, the Memorial Day concerts downtown and sold-out performances at the Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts.
All these events, Bird said, “shone a spotlight on Montgomery's fine arts community and became as well-known as any political or historical figures or athletic teams ever to emerge from our city.
“And then, as true recognition poured in, the hard work paid off: scholarships for young musicians, such as the Blount-Slawson Scholarship, the StringFellows Summer Music Seminar at Huntingdon College, the Cello Fellow and Violin Fellow programs, the Montgomery Youth Orchestra and so many other opportunities for musicians.”
Despite her nonstop work, Steineker will be remembered also for her jovial and generous spirit, MSO board president Bruce Crawford said.
“She just had a tremendous personality,” Crawford said. “She could just pull people in. She was a good friend, and she was a real cheerleader for me and so many others. I could talk to Helen, and suddenly everything would be OK. She also had a wonderful, dry sense of humor that I deeply appreciate. She was a one-in-a-billion person.”
Hinds said Steineker always avoided publicity for herself, because she never believed it was about her.
“The level of the sheer work that she did is staggering,” Hinds said of Steineker, who had acknowledged her relentless work was driven by a passion for music.
“It was not just a passion for music as an esoteric thing. She wanted to build a situation where she connected to the people in Montgomery, and they could be moved by music. She worked hard to make it happen,” he said. “She was really, truly, one of the remarkable people.”
Funeral arrangements had not been released Tuesday night.
Written by Teri Greene
[PHOTO Credit: Helen Steineker, who managed the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, died of cancer Tuesday. / Contributed]
OBITUARY
Helen Jean Steineker passed away December 17, 2013 after a brief illness. Helen received her Bachelor's Degree in Violin Performance from the University of Alabama, her Master's Degree in Violin Performance from Pennsylvania State University, and her Master's Degree in Public Administration from Auburn University at Montgomery. She served as the manager of The Montgomery Symphony Orchestra for 26 years and performed as a member thereof for more than 30 seasons. Helen was among those instrumental in starting the Blount-Slawson Young Artists Scholarship Competition, the Vann Vocal Institute, MSO's Violin and Cello Fellowship programs, the StringFellows Summer Seminar, Alabama Friends of Tanglewood, and Broadway Under the Stars. Survivors include two brothers, Al (Aimee) Steineker and Art Steineker, and a sister, Anita (Joe) Wimbish. Helen is survived by three nephews, Will Steineker, Whitt (Cameron) Steineker, and Clay Steineker as well as two nieces, Barbara (Jeremiah) Saunders and Catherine (Jake) Ray. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Helen's memory to the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra.
Published in the Montgomery Advertiser from Dec. 20 to Dec. 21, 2013
Helen Jean Steineker, passed away December 17, 2013 after a brief illness. Helen received her Bachelor's Degree in Violin Performance from the University of Alabama, her Master's Degree in Violin Performance from Pennsylvania State University, and her Master's Degree in Public Administration from Auburn University at Montgomery. She served as the manager of The Montgomery Symphony Orchestra for 26 years and performed as a member thereof for more than 30 seasons. Helen was among those instrumental in starting the Blount-Slawson Young Artists Scholorship Competition, the Vann Vocal Institute, MSO's Violin and Cello Fellowship programs, the StringFellows Summer Seminar, Alabama Friends of Tanglewood, and Broadway Under the Stars. Survivors include two brothers, Al (Aimee) Steineker and Art Steineker, and a sister, Anita (Joe) Wimbish. Helen is survived by three nephews, Will Steineker, Whitt (Cameron) Steineker, and Clay Steineker as well as two nieces, Barbara (Jeremiah) Saunders and Catherine (Jake) Ray. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at the Davis Theater for Performing Arts, located at 251 Montgomery Street. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Helen's memory to the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra.
Published in the Montgomery Advertiser from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, 2014
Gail Young Perdue (Davis) (1973)
My deepest sympathy to the Steineker Family. I remember Helen always being around as we grew up at Bellingrath. She always reminded me of her Mother, who was my principle at St James. And who could forget her brothers Al and Art. We grew up in a wonderful time, when families were close and friends were our extended families. She was a lovely lady, always had a smile for you. It is very sad to see such a talented young person leave us so soon. She will be missed by all those she touched.
Gail Perdue Davis
Patricia Treat (Balcar) (1972)
What a terrible loss of a great friend to the ARTS world in Montgomery. My sympathies go out to my classmate and friend Al Steineker and all of Helen's family. Hellen Patricia(Tricia) Treat-Balcar Bryan, Texas