Robert Triplett

Robert Triplett, college organist and distinguished musician-in-residence at Cornell College from 1964 to 2001, died April 25, 2016, in Columbia, South Carolina, at age 79.

Triplett joined the Cornell faculty in 1964 from the University of North Carolina. A native of South Carolina, he held a bachelor’s of fine arts degree from the University of Georgia, and master’s and doctorate degrees in sacred music from Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

He appeared throughout the United States as a recitalist, performing at the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists, as soloist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and hundreds of other venues, including performances at Carnegie Hall. Triplett spent the academic year of 1970-71 on sabbatical at Oxford University and at the Hochschule für Musik (Graduate School for Music) in Vienna, returning to Cornell with 12 new works.

The author of “Stagefright: Letting It Work for You,” he gave clinics on stage fright across the country to actors, teachers, musicians, ministers, athletes, business professionals, doctors and civic leaders. Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck offered an enthusiastic review of the book.

He was also the music director and organist at Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City for 14 years, and served as visiting professor of music at the University of Iowa.