Lyric Opera Violist Keith Abbott Conant Dies
CHICAGO (CBS) - The principal violist for the Lyric Opera has died unexpectedly.
The Lyric Opera of Chicago said Keith Abbott Conant suffered a heart attack last Thursday.
Conant, 49, had been with the Lyric Opera since 1987 and became principal violist in 1997. He was last heard performing a viola solo with the Lyric Opera Orchestra during a free concert for more than 15,000 people at Chicago's downtown Millennium Park on Sept. 10.
Conant also was a founding member of the Rembrandt Chamber Players, which will dedicate its next season to his memory. He also was principal violist with the Chicago Philharmonic.
Conant graduated from the Juilliard School of Music in 1986. He has performed with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and was a fellow with the Aspen Music Festival.
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