Celebrating the life of Barbara Hardgrave: April 28 at Studley Theatre

SUNY New Paltz will host a celebration of life of Emerita Professor Barbara Hardgrave on Sunday, April 28, featuring tributes from colleagues, family and friends, as well as musical performances from students and faculty in the Department of Music.

The Celebration of Barbara Hardgrave will begin at 2 p.m. on April 28, at Julien J. Studley Theatre. All are welcome to attend.

Barbara Hardgrave was born in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, on Feb. 2, 1942.

Blessed with a beautiful voice and a warm, animated personality, she joined the SUNY New Paltz Department of Music in 1967 and spent her entire career with the College, working closely with students as a teacher and mentor to help them reach their full potential.

She was a widely-admired and accomplished mezzo soprano, delighting audiences in the Hudson Valley and beyond. She often saved her most impassioned work for performances on the SUNY New Paltz campus, where for more than four decades she was a fixture on stages at Studley Theatre, spring Commencement, and other venues and occasions.

Hardgrave passed away peacefully on February 18, 2019. She was predeceased by husband Ron Steinberg, himself a member of the SUNY New Paltz faculty in the Department of Political Science & International Relations.

A reception following the ceremony will be held in the 1907 Room of Old Main.

Donations can be made to the Barbara Hardgrave Voice Award, c/o the SUNY New Paltz Foundation.