The Salon Piano Series Foundation, Inc. | Salon Piano Series | Madison, WI
The Salon Piano Series Foundation, Inc.
Stratton McAllister was a loving husband, talented musician, superb programmer, beloved professor, and man of integrity. A very generous gift from Stratton and his wife Caryl created the Salon Piano Series Foundation, Inc., whose endowment pays for an entire Salon Piano Series concert each season. Salon Piano Series is very grateful for Stratton and Caryl's support.
A. Stratton McAllister was born on November 9, 1932 in Covington, Virginia where he grew up with his four sisters. Stratton attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York for his undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate in electrical engineering. “Doctor Mac” went on to become a Professor of Electrical Engineering and a Senior Systems Engineer with IBM in the United States, Germany, Belgium, and Italy.
When it came to data processing, he was a consummate programmer in multiple languages. His system design was outstanding, and he had the first online, real-time, integrated library system running under three different operating systems.
In addition to being an excellent programmer and world traveler, Stratton was a talented musician known for his outstanding baritone voice. He sang the title role in The Most Happy Fella, and a recording of him backed by a chorus was included on a Vaughan Williams album because of the beauty of his voice. Stratton sang all the baritone solo roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, as well as in a number of Bach cantatas, Lieder, and in small early music groups. His excellent diction meant that you could understand every word, regardless of the language.
Stratton also played tuba, trombone, and ophicleide in orchestras, bands, and jazz ensembles wherever he lived including playing in the Stadtskapelle Herrenberg when living in Germany. He was also proficient with many early music wind instruments.
His knowledge of classical music was outstanding. Stratton created the parts of an ophicleide concerto from an ancient French score and premiered it in the United States. He was also a talented arranger and made wonderful violin-cello arrangements.
He enjoyed the symphony, the ballet, the theater, and especially the opera. During his lifetime he attended twenty-two Wagner Ring Cycles. One of the series he enjoyed most was the Salon Piano Series, hence his interest in supporting these concerts.
But Stratton was much more than his accomplishments and musical prowess. He was a man of integrity, totally honest down to his toes. He not only shared his passion for the arts, but created a home and marriage that celebrated them and displayed their enduring beauty. When you spoke with Stratton, you knew he heard what you had to say and that he cared. And we can’t leave out his wonderful, dry sense of humor!
Thank you, Stratton, for your generous support of Salon Piano Series.