Curtis Mourns the Loss of Anthony Checchia (Bassoon '51)
Curtis mourns the loss of Anthony Checchia (Bassoon ’51), former administrative director to director Rudolf Serkin at the school, influential cultural leader, and concert impresario, who passed away at his home in Rittenhouse Square, on Saturday, September 7, at age 94. The former general manager of Marlboro Music School and Festival, Mr. Checchia was the founder of the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society (PCMS) and artistic director of the organization for its first 28 years, noted for his vital role in helping to identify, develop, and nurture generations of leading musicians worldwide.
Born in Philadelphia in 1930, Mr. Checchia studied at Jules E. Mastbaum High School and Curtis from 1950 to 1951. His early performance career included professional engagements with the Baltimore Symphony, New York City Ballet Orchestra, and other ensembles, while his passion for nurturing young talent began as the music director of Young Audiences in Philadelphia, presenting such artists as a young Richard Goode (’64), who would go on to be one of the most admired pianists of his generation.
Mr. Checchia first attended the Marlboro Music Festival in 1956 as a bassoonist, and in 1958, Rudolf Serkin, whom he had worked with a Curtis, asked Checchia to take on the administrative leadership of Marlboro. During his administration which, from 1960 onward, he shared with his colleague Frank Salomon, he worked tirelessly to advance its mission and ideals, working with such eminent resident artists as Pablo Casals, Marcel Moyse, Felix Galimir, Alexander Schneider, Leon Fleisher, Richard Goode, Eugene Istomin, Mitsuko Uchida, and members of the Guarneri and Juilliard String Quartets, and Beaux Arts Trio. Mr. Checchia and Frank Salomon also played a crucial role in steering Marlboro through its transition in artistic leadership following the death of Rudolf Serkin in 1991 and the appointment of Richard Goode and Mitsuko Uchida as co-directors in 1999.
In 1986, he created the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and served as its founding artistic director. Over the years, Mr. Checchia and his colleague, Philip Maneval, transformed PCMS’ program from a series of seven concerts to an organization respected worldwide, presenting an annual season of some 65 performances–including chamber music, instrumental and vocal recitals, and special programming–as well as 50 educational programs. Under Mr. Checchia’s leadership, PCMS has gone on to present more than a thousand performances since its founding and commissioned over 100 works by leading composers.
Mr. Checchia served on the boards of the Presser Foundation and Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia; and had been an adviser to the Pew Fellowships in the Arts and Astral Artistic Services. He received a lifetime award from the Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia and an honorary doctorate from the Curtis Institute of Music in 2001.
The Curtis community extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to Mr. Checchia’s wife, Benita Valente (Voice ’60), and his son Pete, as well as his family, friends, and colleagues.
Photos credits: 1.) Photo of Mr. Checchia courtesy of Marlboro Music. 2.) Portrait of Mr. Checchia in his music room; Philadelphia Inquirer, September 8, 2024. 3.) Anthony Checchia and his wife, soprano Benita Valente, in their Center City home; Philadelphia Inquirer, Ed Hille, March 14, 2016.
