Gary Michael Madison

Gary Michael Madison passed away in North Brunswick, New Jersey at the age of 57. Gary was born on July 22, 1957 in Leavenworth, Kansas to Doris and Estel Madison. When Gary was two years old his family moved to Pine City. From the very early age of five, Gary knew “music” was what he wanted to do with his life. Gary graduated from Pine City High School in 1975. During high school Gary would perform in summer stock theatre groups in the metro. After high school Gary graduated from the University of Minnesota. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree from Rutgers in 1994, after graduation he taught music at Rutgers. Gary was not only gifted in music and theater, he earned a double Ph.D. in the fields of natural medicine and nutrition; when not making music, directing or teaching he spent his time counseling clients on his uniquely developed method of total body detoxification. Early in his career, Gary was a singer, he apprenticed with the Santa Fe Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Minnesota Opera and the Goldovsky Opera Institute. He directed both on and off-Broadway, most notably in premieres by Terrence McNally and Kataherine Houghton, the original Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera, and a tour of Side By Side By Sondheim that was highly praised by Stephen Sondheim. Gary worked for New York Patent attorneys as a research assistant, thus affording him the ability to continue his love of music. Gary was the proud author of 14 complete opera English surtitle translation and he was instrumental in the development and design of the first computerized surtitle systems used in U.S. opera houses. The Washington Post wrote of his translation of The Marriage of Figaro” “Madison’s succinct and precise English translation remains the hit of the show”. Gary held the position of Music Director for the Baltimore Opera Company, the Baltimore Opera Touring Theatre, Annapolis Opera Company, Minnesota Music Theatre, and the Universities of Maryland and Minnesota. Gary worked for Beverly Sills at the New York Opera Company. He was also Co-Founder and Music Director of KinderOpera Theater in Washington D.C. In December of 2007 Gary gave a Carnegie Hall concert to a sold-out house and received a standing ovation! In addition to teaching voice, piano, musical theartre, acting/directing and improvisation at numerous U.S. colleges, he had been a coach/accompanist for such artists as; Leontyne Price, Joan Sutherland, Eleanor Steber, Luciano Pavarotti, Jean Stapleton, Roberta Flack, Blondie and many others. Gary taught private voice and piano lessons in North Brunswick, NJ and was an adjunct professor at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Gary is survived by his: mother Doris Madison, brother Mark (Cheryl) Madison all of Pine City, sisters: Kathleen Bartley of Boynton Beach, Florida and Cynthia Madison of Brainerd. Nieces and nephews: Michael (Laraba) Nowling, Connie (Kenneth) Darby, Tanner Madison, Telby Madison, Jeff (Gina) Grothe, Chris (Eleni) Grothe, Julie (Liam) Cussen, many relatives and friends. Gary was preceded in death by his father Estel (Stoney) Madison, sisters Colleen Madison and Cheryl Nowling, and infant nephew Steven Nowling. Pastor Jeremy Langmade will officiate at the memorial service for Gary, 3:30 p.m., Friday, July 24, 2015 at the Swanson Chapel. A time of visitation will is planned for one-hour prior to the service at the chapel. Internment will take place at the Birchwood Cemetery in Pine City, Minnesota. Funeral arrangements for Gary Madison are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City ~ Swanson Chapel. www.funeralandcremationservice.com