Looking Back: When George Muldoon picked up 2nd composing prize

George Muldoon, whose two-time music-writing win was reported by the Argus-Courier three decades ago this week (see sidebar), passed away in June of 2015, in Petaluma.

“George was a very shy, modest person. He tended to downplay his accomplishments,” recalls Katie Watts, one of Muldoon’s longtime friends. Though Watts says Muldoon was always eager to play his works for friends and students, of which he had many, he rarely spoke of his awards, and she has no idea where those works might be today.

“I remember him playing some of his compositions,” Watts says. “He was always happy when people enjoyed them, but never in an arrogant way. That wasn’t George. As a teacher, he was very kind and understanding. If you didn’t practice, he didn’t yell at you - but you could tell he was disappointed. He always believed in his students.”

Sometimes more than they believed in themselves, Watts notes.

“Kind, gentle and patient, that’s how I remember George,” she says. “He loved music and he touched a lot of lives.”

As to what ever did become of those award-winning Music Teacher Association compositions, the MTAC has yet to reply to requests for information as to where copies of that music might be.

Watts, for her part, would love to hear them again someday.

“Hopefully,” she says, “that music still exists ... somewhere.”