Shirley Ann Bean

Shirley Ann Bean, D.M.A., life-long musician and UMKC Conservatory music theory and history professor, passed away on December 18, 2019, at Saint Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri, after a prolonged illness. She was born on October 30, 1938, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Shirley graduated from Westport High School. She was awarded an Associate of Arts degree from Kansas City Junior College in 1958; a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Kansas City in 1960; a Master of Music Theory from UMKC in 1963; and the Doctor of Musical Arts in History and Literature from UMKC in 1973. Dr. Bean is noted for her outstanding teaching career at the Conservatory.

Shirley’s extraordinary musical aptitude became evident at a very young age. She began studying piano as a child at the Conservatory with Judith Hulse and Marjorie Ounsworth. She also studied trumpet, baritone horn, marimba, jazz piano, and jazz band arranging with Art Joliff at Quigley’s Music Studio. As a teenager, Shirley became conductor/arranger for the studio’s popular All Girl Jazz Band, performing regular dance engagements in the Kansas City area. In college at the Conservatory, she continued her studies on trumpet, as well as on piano with Joanne Baker, and in voice with Martha Longmire—requiring her to perform graded juries on two applied instruments and voice per semester. Shirley sang in the Madrigal Singers conducted by Prof. Virginia Mackie, and in Heritage Chorale, conducted by Prof. Everet Hendricks, and served as assistant to both conductors.

Shirley’s outstanding facility in music theory was first recognized by Professor Marian Nelsen in junior college. It was Prof. Nelsen who recommended Shirley to Virginia French Mackie, who invited her to become her protégé at the Conservatory of Music. As a graduate assistant to Prof. Mackie, Shirley assisted with teaching and grading, and finally was assigned to teach the large undergraduate music survey class held in Haag Hall Auditorium on her own (with an enrollment of more than 150 students).

Shirley was hired by the Shawnee Mission School District to teach vocal and instrumental music in junior and senior high schools beginning in 1960. During those years, she also taught summer classes in music theory at the Conservatory. In 1969, Shirley was invited to become a member of the UMKC Conservatory faculty in the Theory and History department, where she taught for 34 years. Dr. Bean was ultimately named Chair of the Academic Studies Department at the Conservatory.

As a college professor, Dr. Bean was beloved by her students, who appreciated her ability to distill often difficult subject matter into approachable methodology. Her graduate courses of various musical periods were comprehensive—including not only the music of the period, but also the contemporary art, architecture, culture, general historical events, musical instruments and performance techniques of the time. She was quoted in the U-News in 1973 saying “I would rather be in teaching more than anything else. I love to teach. It’s creative in a sense.” Dr. Bean was known for her kindness, fairness, and humor in dealing with all her students. Undergraduate and graduate students worked diligently to earn the coveted “smiley face” from her on their assignments, which were only drawn on exams and papers for an A or A- grade. Always positive, always encouraging—Dr. Bean ultimately became most remembered for her words of inspiration to students and faculty alike: “Be Brave!”

In the field of musical research, her work included an annotated edition of “The Missouri Harmony” published by the Nebraska University Press; research and professional papers centered on the works of American composer, Paul Creston; and over 30 annotated editions of works by the eighteenth-century composer and Mozart contemporary, Marianna Martines, published by ClarNan Editions.

Dr. Bean received many awards for her teaching excellence including significant monetary awards from the Standard Oil Foundation, Inc., for excellence in undergraduate teaching, the Amoco Foundation, Inc., Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching, the Kansas City Conservatory of Music Board of Trustees Excellence in Teaching Award, the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award, the Chi Omega Sorority Most Distinguished Professor Award, and the Alpha Psi Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity Outstanding Faculty Award. Dr. Bean also received grants for her musical research from the Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, a Sinfonia Foundation Grant and several UMKC Faculty Research Board grants.

For many years, Dr. Bean conducted her own church choir and then served as a member of the St. John’s United Methodist Church choir under the direction of Bill Longmeir. She later transferred her membership to the Leawood United Methodist Church. Her professional memberships include: American Musicological Society, Society for Music Theory, Midwest Theory Society, College Music Society, The Sonneck Society, Pi Kappa Lambda, Sigma Alpha Iota and the UMKC Alumni Association. She served multiple terms on the UMKC Research Board; and as President of the UMKC Conservatory Faculty.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Erma Josephine (Weber) Bean and John Bean; her aunt and uncle, Lora (Weber) McMullen and Frank D. McMullen, who became like parents to her after her father passed away when she was almost age two; a cherished first cousin, Vice Admiral Frank D. McMullen, Jr. and his wife Ruth; and her dear cousin and friend, Marilyn McMullen. She is survived by her first cousin, Larry L. McMullen, who was like a brother to her; many beloved cousins in the McMullen, Bean, and Weber families; her Shih-Tzu dog, Muffy; many close friends, and hundreds of talented former music students.

A private burial and graveside service will be held for family and friends at Mt. Moriah Cemetery under the direction of Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, with the Rev. Howard Johnson of Leawood United Methodist Church officiating. A Memorial Concert will be presented in Dr. Bean’s memory by former Conservatory students, ensembles, and the LUMC Choir on Sunday, January 12, 2020, at 1:00 p.m., at the Leawood United Methodist Church, 2915 West 95th Street, Leawood, KS 66206. The public is invited to attend.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Shirley Ann Bean Scholarship made payable to UMKC Foundation, mailed to UMKC Conservatory, 4949 Cherry Street, Room 413, Kansas City, MO 64110; or the Leawood United Methodist Church Legacy Fund in care of the church.