CSU mourns longtime piano professor

By Jan Joslin | February 7, 2023

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The Charleston Southern family is mourning the loss of Professor Emeritus of Music Eugene Henry Koester who died Feb. 3 at the age of 91.

Koester graduated in 1969 from the then Baptist College at Charleston, now CSU, in the first graduating class. He held a Master of Music in piano performance from the University of South Carolina and joined the CSU faculty in 1974. He served for 41 years as coordinator of piano studies. After his retirement, he taught part-time until he was 89 years old.

Well-loved by his students, Koester performed numerous recitals over his career and also played at the Dock Street Theatre and with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

The funeral service will be Friday, Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. in the Trinity Church Pinopolis, 1915 Pinopolis Road in Pinopolis. Interment will follow in Bethany Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, Feb. 9 from 5-7 p.m. at J. Henry Stuhr’s Northwoods Chapel, 2180 Greenridge Road in North Charleston.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to the Eugene Koester Scholarship Fund at Charleston Southern University. Contact David Baggs in the Office of Development for more information.