Italo Taranta, 86, musician

Italo Taranta, 86, of Drexel Hill, a music teacher, composer, and choral director, died Tuesday, Nov. 4, of complications from Alzheimer's disease at home.

Born in Paganica in southern Italy, Mr. Taranta came to the United States as an infant and settled with his parents in southeastern Ohio before moving to Michigan.

His parents had a difficult relationship; he escaped into the solace of music, although he struggled for years with migraine headaches and depression.

"Rarely was there ever a person more passionate about something than my dad was about classical music. It elevated him; it saved him. And the cool thing was, [through teaching] he could take others there with him," his son Chris said.

Mr. Taranta graduated from East Detroit High School and earned a bachelor's degree in music from Wayne State University in Detroit. He completed a master's degree in music from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

From 1955 to 1959, he was the opera workshop director and theory instructor for the Detroit Conservatory of Music. He then taught music and directed the choir at Cass Technical High School, a magnet school of arts and science in Detroit. He left in 1966 to join the University of Louisville as an associate professor of music and choral director.

In 1968, Mr. Taranta moved to Philadelphia to become music teacher and choral director at Overbrook High School. In 1972, he took a job as chairman of the music department, choral director, and music teacher at Central High School. He stayed until 1987.

"Italo Taranta inspired several generations of musicians with his incredible musicianship, zany sense of humor, and love of teaching. The sound of his high school choirs was stunning for students so young," his family said in a tribute.

In addition to his public school work, he was the choral director and instructor of music theory at the Settlement Music School from 1968 to 1997, and director of the Philadelphia All City Choir in the 1970s and '80s. His Settlement Music choirs performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

In 2008, the Settlement school recognized him among 100 outstanding individuals selected during the school's centennial.

"His inventive games and quirky humor made learning fun for Settlement Music School students for 30 years," the school said in honoring him.

He composed and had published eight books of piano music, a book of piano duets for teacher and student, and several individual compositions.

His repertoire ranged from madrigals to full concert works. Many of his students have gone on to successful careers as instrumentalists or vocal musicians, his family said.

Mr. Taranta devoted many volunteer hours to teaching and promoting music. He offered music appreciation classes to seniors at Dunwoody Home in Newtown Square, Martins Run in Media, and Kendal at Longwood.

"He can play any kind of music on the piano in any key. He is a living musical encyclopedia!" the Martins Runs course catalog said.

In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jean Holtz Taranta; another son, Mark; daughter Ann Whitehead; a brother; a sister; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Mr. Taranta's life and work will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, 145 W. Rose Tree Rd., Media. Burial is private.