Remembering Gloria Stroud (1926-2020)
The Dallas Symphony remembers one of its retired members, violinist Gloria Stroud. Stroud joined the DSO in 1949 and was a member of the violin section until her retirement in 1991. She passed away on December 20, 2020, in Dallas. Stroud is survived by two daughters, Sharon Stroud and Gloria Gantner and husband Tom Gantner, and their two children, Austin and wife Liz, and Rachael; and Layden’s family Jan Stroud and nephews and nieces.
Gloria Stroud was a gifted musician, and she gave back through music her entire career. As a young violinist, she performed for patients at her father’s hospital. While a student at Juilliard, she joined a string quartet that performed for soldiers during World War II. The quartet was sponsored by the U.S.O. and played in hospital wards throughout the Pacific Islands – Guam, Siapan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Peleliu, Ulithi, and the Philippines. It was through those performances that she met her husband. Even after retirement, Stroud travelled to retirement communities to play for their residents.
Her time with the DSO was also marked by service. Stroud’s quartet performed in Dallas schools as part of “mini-concerts.” She gave behind the scenes lectures and demonstrations on the violin. She also was a program chair for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League through 2015.
The DSO is thankful for her time as part of the DSO family, and our thoughts are with the family in this difficult time.
Gloria Stroud’s full remembrance from her family may be found here.