Dawn Phelps Neal

Dawn Marie Adams Phelps Neal was a concert violinist and teacher by profession. Her career really began at a tender age by her father who taught, “never say NO to any assignment! “ Therefore, the number of performances she gave for weddings, funerals, church events, community gatherings, firesides and service projects continued until her final performance in the summer of 2015 together with her five daughters, all of whom are professional musicians.

Dawn was born in Pleasant Grove, Utah on May 19th, 1927. She was the middle child with two older sisters, Joan and Zoe, and younger twin brothers, Gordon and Guyman. She began her musical training on the piano, but longed to play the violin. Finally, at age 11, she officially began violin lessons. At the age of 14 she began playing with the Brigham Young University Orchestra. Two years later, at the invitation of world-renown violinist Feri Roth, she traveled to Los Angeles to study with him at UCLA. Dawn began her own teaching career at the Los Angeles Music and Art School where she built up a formidable class of students.

In 1951, Dawn met Harold Eldaro Phelps, a professional Real Estate Broker. They were married on October 18th, 1952 in the St. George LDS Temple. Five daughters were born to Harold and Dawn between 1954 and 1963: Sheila, Shelley, Stacy, Cynthia and Melissa. Each daughter was given music lessons early on and soon were collaborating on concerts and recitals together. Harold and Dawn lived a wonderfully happy married life for almost 26 years before his death on August 25th, 1978. Dawn subsequently married John Neal in 1980; they enjoyed nearly 30 years together until his death in 2009.

Dawns activities outside the field of music were numerous, diversified and service-oriented. She was president of the California Utah Women’s organization from 1960-1961, having also been a recipient of their annual heritage award for outstanding service to the community. As PTA president of Gardner Street Elementary School 1974-1975, she spearheaded many philanthropic projects which included the acquisition of a new piano, office equipment, uniforms for the orchestra, and the launching and directing of a Mother Singers chorus. These women performed for the Veterans Hospital, the Salvation Army and many civic organizations earning money for the school, orchestra and choral libraries. For over ten years, and before a clinic was established in Mexico, Dawn and Harold hosted dozens of crippled children, clothing and caring for them while they received physical therapy and braces at UCLA.

Dawn served for two terms as president of Mu Phi Epsilon, an international music fraternity and was on the board of directors of the Memorial Foundation. This organization was responsible for selecting and awarding scholarships for six major music schools in the United States.

As a teacher, Dawn served as a clinician and adjudicator for the Certificate of Merit program sponsored by the National Music Teachers Association. For many years she headed the string faculty at Immaculate Heart College Prep School and Namaste Fine Arts School, while also conducting string and choral classes in a number of private and public schools. She served as a string specialist in several Southern California High Schools, developing a new string program for the West Valley School District. For nearly a decade, Dawn commuted weekly to Orange County where she taught private violin lessons.

As a performer, Dawn collaborated frequently with her five daughters, concertizing in Europe and performing classical music programs aboard several cruise ships. Together, they produced 2 albums of varied musical offerings.

Dawn was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was given many assignments, including choir director, teacher, and speaker for Singles conferences, Firesides and Relief Society seminars. As Cultural Arts Director, she conducted performances of Mendelssohn’s Oratorio, “Elijah”, Mozart’s Requiem and an Interfaith Choral celebration at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Westwood, CA.

Dawn loved to travel and her many trips took her to diverse areas of the world. She enjoyed two solo trips to Israel, where she performed on her violin while on an archeological dig. She traveled to Ibiza, Spain for a birthday celebration with all of her daughters, to Turkey with two beloved granddaughters, and, most recently, to Southern France to attend the wedding of her grandson, surrounded by generations of her children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.

Dawns life long goal was, “to be of constant service, to be able to contribute with what my experience and self-discipline have equipped me - to be more charitable, more magnanimous, more Christ-like and to be able to continue to answer “yes!” to anything I am called to do!”

She is survived by her five daughters and their husbands, 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was held for Dawn in Pleasant Grove, Utah on February 2, 2019.

A memorial concert in her honor will be performed in the Ventura area by her daughters sometime in 2020.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, in Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com.