Timothy Vernon, choral music leader, conductor and pianist, New York City and Pleasantville, N.Y., died on December 28, 2005. Vernon was born in Winston-Salem, N.C., on February 5, 1945. He earned B.A. degrees in music simultaneously from Juilliard and Columbia and had two graduate degrees (in musicology in music liturgy and in orchestral conducting) from the Yale School of Music and SUNY Buffalo. While at the College, he received the Henry Evans Traveling Fellowship and was a member of Delta Phi fraternity. A pianist, harpsichordist and organist, Vernon was the music director of the Choral Arts Society, based in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., since 1990. He also had conducted the Yale Philharmonic, been music director of the Opera Program at the Music Conservatory at Purchase College and taught at Bennett College, the Aspen Music Festival and School and the School of Visual Arts. Vernon toured as a pianist and conductor throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and South America
and had a special interest in directing vocal music, leading choral groups and coaching opera singers. He also taught private lessons in his community. Vernon was the choir director and musical liturgist at The Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Chappaqua, N.Y. In addition to his work in music, Vernon was an adventurous traveler, having recently voyaged down the Mekong River and traveled to Egypt. He is survived by a brother, John; and sister, Carolyn Carter.