Dr. Kenneth Lee Sarch

Ken was born in the Bronx, New York on July 27, 1941. He was the son of Samuel J. Sarch and Ann Yanovsky Sarch. He spent most of his childhood in West Orange, NJ. He enjoyed playing baseball in his youth, and guided by his mother’s musical talents as an accomplished pianist and music school owner, took music seriously from a young age. He grew up with his younger brother Harvey Sarch (D), and sister Patricia Sarch.

He was full of life and energy up until the day he passed. Even on his last day, he was teaching violin to his students. His witty sense of humor was a defining characteristic, as was his care and dedication to his music, his students, and his family.

Ken is survived by his sister, Patricia Sarch, seven children and their spouses/partners: Oren and Gagan, Yaron and Sonja, Alexander and Vanessa, Natalya and Paul, Serena and Jerom, Gabriel and Selin, and Daniel and Chesna, as well as his ten grandchildren Raviv, Evan, Amber, Ella, Gabriel, Noah, Nora, Zoe, Adrian and Mika. He married four times (Liora, Bettina, Margot, Yvonne), and his children and family were his pride and joy. He contributed to a strong bond between them, despite their large age gaps and life stages. In later years, he often traveled to spend time with his grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. He remembered every birthday and anniversary in his large family and always participated in the big life events for his children, like graduations, concerts, and weddings.

He had a distinguished career as a violinist, teacher, conductor, and composer. He received his B.S and M.S. from The Julliard School of Music and then went on to receive his Artist Diploma from New England Conservatory and his D.M.A. from Boston University. He studied with some of the great violin teachers during his younger years and became one himself. Early in his career, he was the assistant to acclaimed violinist and teacher Roman Totenberg.

Dr. Sarch, as his students knew him, transformed the lives of countless students throughout his career. His students describe him as supportive, encouraging, inspirational, and passionate. He taught violin and viola, chamber music, music education, and conducting at various universities including Hartford Conservatory, Boston University, New England Conservatory, The Longy School of Music, East Tennessee State University, Shenandoah University, Mansfield University, and Lycoming College. He presented numerous Master Classes at fine music schools both domestically and internationally.

He didn’t stop there. He wanted to bring music to the lives of students around the world. He was awarded two Fulbright Scholar Awards in music to teach, perform, and conduct in Brazil and Bolivia, the 2003 PMEA Citation of Excellence in College Music Education, and USIA Arts America Grants to Panama, Brazil, Jordan, and Israel. He was invited 12 times to conduct the Panama National Youth Orchestra Music Festival in Panama City. He founded and was the first conductor of Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, creating a youth orchestra of 40 musicians in a foreign language in 90 days. As a testament to the foundation he had laid and the orchestra’s staying power, he returned in August 2013 as Guest Conductor for the orchestra’s 10th anniversary celebration.

He was also a magical performer. He performed the world premiere of Panamanian composer Narcisco Garay's "Violin Sonata," written in 1901, and the Beethoven "Kreutzer" Sonata at the International Saint Malo Festival in Panama. He was Concertmaster of the Williamsport Symphony for 14 years, as well as Concertmaster of the Maryland Symphony, Hartford Civic Symphony, the New York Orchestral Society, and the Bloomsburg Symphony.

He was proudly Jewish and carried on many culturally Jewish traditions throughout his life. In 2019, he performed on the violin of a Dutch Holocaust victim, Bram Rodrigues, shortly after the violin was returned to the family after 75 years. It was the first time the violin had been played since Bram owned it.

He had many friends and peers with whom he shared long dinners, concerts, and jokes. In his free time, when he wasn’t practicing violin, he enjoyed TV shows, reading, caring for the garden and birds around his home, and spending time with family.

Kenneth Sarch leaves a long and transformative legacy on the lives of his family, students, and friends. His enthusiasm and humor will be missed dearly.

Services are being livestreamed, using the following link; https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/121386

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support the youth orchestra he founded in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Orquestra Sinfónica Juvenil de Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Donate here: https://gofund.me/5460ab3ab

Please join us in celebrating his life on Friday, April 10th at 1 pm at the Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, located at 68 Old Short Hills Rd in Livingston, New Jersey 07039. The burial will follow at Mount Sinai Cemetery & Mausoleum (374 Hwy 79, Morganville, NJ 07751) - please note that this is a 45-60 minute drive from the Funeral Chapel.

If you would like to see the family prior to the start of the funeral service at the chapel, please arrive at 12:15 pm.