Melinda O’Neal

During the two years I first knew Zeke at Dartmouth (his first and second years), he was voraciously curious, unfailingly kind, and unstoppable in his quest to learn. His extraordinary gifts spanned music and languages in particular, and he was an amazing teacher.

Zeke sang in Handel Society, took conducting, and served as an assistant conductor and manager of Handel Society’s December 2002 concert tour to Germany and Austria. He conducted the 12-voice Prologue chorus for our Berlioz Roméo et Juliette performance in Spaulding March 2003, and the following May sang in our Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem.

In following years Zeke would pop up everywhere to stay in touch—Baltimore, Hanover, London. I’m sure many felt close to him. We last visited in London this past November. He loved his travel-intense, multi-job, multi-city-and-country European life and was extremely good at it. Most recently he was appointed conductor of the Kings College London Orchestra, a wonderful position. His highly refined conducting and leadership skills are well documented in his most recent video of a competition in Norway a week before his passing. So very, very proud of him.

Zeke was one of the brightest of stars in this universe, and we all are better for having known him. 

– Melinda O’Neal, professor of music emerita, former conductor of Handel Society and Chamber Singers