Kenneth G. Fiske was a violinist, Pomona College music instructor, and the conductor of the Pomona College orchestra. Born January 6, 1901 in Cresco, Iowa, he “began playing the violin at the age of five, and at 17 was performing on the Chautauqua series circuit playing 23 solos a day and 160 concerts a year…” and received his BA and MA in music from the American Conservatory of Music Chicago, before studying at the Bush Conservatory, University of Chicago, Julliard School of Music New York, and USC , as well as studying violin and chamber music under prominent European and American instructors. Fiske met his wife Gloria, a pianist, while attending the American Conservatory. He joined the faculty at Pomona College in 1936. While at Pomona, Fiske also curated the Janssen Musical Instrument Collection, containing 1,200 pieces that included rare and unusual international instruments, which was kept in the Kenneth G. Fiske Museum at the Claremont Colleges until its sale in 2008. He passed away in 1984 at the age of 83. A memorial endowed fellowship is given in his honor to a student enrolled in the music program.

Sources

Fiske, Burch. Times-Plains Dealer. “Fiske, Kenneth G. 1901-1984.” February 15, 1984. http://iagenweb.org/boards/howard/obituaries/index.cgi?read=438581 (Accessed March 12, 2018)

Gordon, Larry. The Los Angeles Times. “A departure sadly noted: Seldom shown for lack of funding, the Claremont Colleges’ rare musical instrument collection heads to Phoenix – and visibility.” April 21, 2008. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/21/local/me-fiske21 (Accessed March 13, 2018).