Lawrence Bond

Lawrence Bigelow Bond, accomplished bass-baritone and long-time voice teacher, left this earth on June 29, 2015 at the age of 82.

A long time member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, he was a beloved husband, father, friend, and teacher who will be greatly missed. Lonny's absolute faith in the goodness of God's love and his belief in humankind's inherent responsibility to share that love instilled a desire to be a better person in everyone whose life he touched.

Born in Lynn, MA, Lonny grew up in Richmond, VA. He received his B.S. in Public School Music from the University of Richmond, and his Masters of Education from the College of William and Mary. While in Williamsburg, he met the love of his life, Mary Virginia Ferguson, with whom he had a beautiful 57-year marriage.

In 1962, he joined the music faculty of Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, eventually becoming Chair of the Music Department. He earned his Doctor of Music in 1969 from Indiana University School of Music. After 17 years with Catawba, he and Mary Virginia moved to Orlando, FL, where he was Minister of Music for Park Lake Presbyterian Church and taught voice at Stetson University in nearby Deland. In 1986 he joined the faculty of Scarritt Graduate School in Nashville for its final two years of existence, after which he returned to Florida as Minister of Music at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church in Tampa. The happiest chapter of his and Mary Virginia's lives came when they decided to come back to Nashville and start their own music studio (she in piano, he in voice). In addition to his private studio, Lonny taught briefly at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music, and served as the choir director at First Presbyterian of Murfreesboro. He joined the voice faculty of the Belmont University School of Music in 1990 and taught through the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

Throughout his life, Lonny was an active church member, serving on sessions and various committees as well as directing choirs and being the go-to baritone soloist. One of the great joys of his life was attending the annual Presbyterian Association of Musicians Worship and Music Conference in Montreat, NC, which he and Mary Virginia co-chaired in 1993.

An accomplished performer (and ardent sports fan - but that's another story), Lonny presented solo recitals all over the United States and appeared with symphony orchestras and opera companies throughout the Southeast.

Lonny's legacy of love will be carried on by his wife Mary Virginia Ferguson Bond, daughter Angela Bond Markus, son-in-law James Markus, son John Lawrence Bond, daughter-in-law Susan Johnson Bond, grandsons Tyler Bond, Chase Bond and Luke Markus, all his former students and every other person whose life he touched.

A celebration service will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3201Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN, on July 25 at 2pm followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Alive Hospice (alivehospice.org/support-us/donate-now), Habitat for Humanity (habitatnashville.org/donate), or the School of Music at Belmont University, 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37212 (belmont.edu/development/index.html). Please indicate that your contribution is in memory of Dr. Lawrence Bond.