Thomas E. Buchhauser

Thomas E. Buchhauser died in Madison on June 21, 2024, after a long illness. 

Tom is survived by his loving husband John (Jack) Ely, and his cousin Jean McCarragher. 

Tom was born in Chicago on October 11, 1939, to Roy Andrew Buchhauser and Bessie (Evans) Buchhauser. Although he was an only child, he grew up two houses away from four cousins who were as close to him as siblings. 

Growing up in the Welsh church, Tom learned to sing Welsh hymns in four-part harmony. He attended local, state, and national hymn fests known as Gymanfa Ganu. Later in life, he was fond of quoting poet Brian Harris, who said that being born Welsh "with music in your blood and with poetry in your soul, is a privilege indeed.". 

Tom began taking piano lessons at age five, started studying the cello in ninth grade at Lane Tech High School, where he majored in music, and entered the UW-Madison School of Music in 1957, where he studied cello with Lowell Creitz. He received his B.A. in music in 1962 and his M.A. in 1964. 

"I never wanted to do anything but conduct children's orchestras," Tom recalled, and he devoted his life to that purpose. In 1963 he began teaching and conducting at Central High School and in 1966 he moved to the new Memorial High School, where the auditorium was later named in his honor. "I just stayed there for 33 years," he said afterward. "I found a home and loved it. He also taught at Jefferson Middle School. He joined the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO) in 1983 as associate music director and director of the Philharmonia Orchestra and remained with them until his retirement in 2013. He led the WYSO Youth Symphony on many international tours, including England, Scotland, Hungary, Spain, Japan, Taiwan, and Czechoslovakia. 

Tom was active with the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA), especially with the State Honors music camps, where he served as cello section coach and assistant camp director for over 30 years. He worked with the Capitol Christmas Pageant beginning in 1966 and was its chairman from 1973 to 1997. 

In retirement he served on numerous music boards, including the Madison Symphony Orchestra education committee, the Madison Area Handbell Choir, the Oakwood Chamber Players, and WYSO. 

He won the WSMA Service Award, the Wisconsin Music Educators Conference Distinguished Service award in 1982, the Madison Metropolitan School District Distinguished Service award in 1986, the American String Teachers Outstanding Service award in 1992, the National String Orchestra Association Director of the Year award in 1993, the Crystal Apple Award in 1999, and the Rabin Youth Arts Award in 2001. 

Known affectionately to his thousands of students as "Mr. B," he never aimed to train professional orchestra players, although many of his students did achieve that status. His goal was to teach music because of "the value it adds to a person's life, for the joy, the wonderment, and camaraderie of working with others," a gift, he said, "that stays with you throughout your life." One of his greatest joys was to hear from former students who had continued to play for the sheer fun of it in community orchestras or with friends. 

"I'm so grateful to have had the life I've had," he said in his retirement. "I don't think I could've done anything in life that could've made me happier, prouder.” Tom was an avid gardener and spent many enjoyable hours turning his Fitchburg backyard into a living work of art. At Christmastime, he made dozens of fruitcakes and plum puddings to give to his many friends. 

A memorial service will occur on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Westminster Church 4100 Nakoma Road, Madison, WI 53711. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Thomas Buchhauser Scholarship Fund at the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra at 1118 E Washington Avenue, Madison WI 53703 ATTN: Bridget Fraser, or visit wysomusic.org/donate-now