Many continue to grieve the loss of our good friend and colleague, Leona (fondly also known as “Fiona”) Schaefer.

Leona and her husband, Canon John Schaefer, moved to the Kansas City area in 1976 where they became an important and integral part of the musical culture. “Fiona” was a member of the Trinity Choir at Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, under John’s direction, for over 40 years. She was also involved in the Kansas City Musical Club, the Greater Kansas City chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the St. David’s Welsh Society of Greater Kansas City, and the Alpha Lioness Club.

In 2010, “Fiona” began a weekly email announcing the upcoming musical events of note, as well as interesting points of history and/or fun, which was highly regarded by those who received it.

She enjoyed the music of Eric Satie and his contemporaries, the paintings of Claude Monet and his contemporaries, the Morse mysteries, Harry Potter stories, and much more. She was keenly dedicated to making people happy, and unfailingly loving to so many.

When we lost her in the fall of 2021, her friends and colleagues thought a music scholarship in her name would be a fitting honor for this most remarkable woman. She would be proud of this year’s winner of her scholarship award.