An accomplished musician and teacher who made Bermuda her home for 15 years left an impact on the island’s cultural scene that will be felt for “generations”.

Alison Black not only brought music to Bermuda, but led the way in renewing an orchestra and centre for the enjoyment of music, said Kate Kayaian, the president and music director at the now-thriving Bermuda Philharmonic Society.

The organisation had fallen by the wayside until Ms Black, as its chairwoman, steered the way for its return to the spotlight. She served as president until 2020, and was a frequent concertmaster and featured soloist with the orchestra.

“She left a very significant impact on our musical community,” Ms Kayaian said.

“We’ve built the Bermuda Philharmonic Society into a huge orchestra and a huge part of the scene here.

“That would never have happened if she hadn’t revived it in 2017. It had gone into decline and essentially ceased operations. She and other professional musicians on the island spearheaded its renewal.”

She said Ms Black, from Canada, came to Bermuda in 2010 “looking for a change” — and found new adventures teaching music at the Menuhin Foundation, where she was devoted to her students.

Music and musical education had always been central to Ms Black’s life, as she told The Royal Gazette when the society prepared to celebrate its return with a major concert, Spring Prelude.

“I think music is a uniquely human language, often with no words,” she said.

“It reflects many cultures, but it also transcends culture and words. It’s something we all enjoy and share.”

In an article for the Menuhin Foundation newsletter, Ms Black recalled: “Orchestra has been a major part of my life since I can remember holding a violin.”

She described “the absolute awe and wonder at finding myself in the midst of such a vast tapestry of sound, as the art of often long gone composers came to life”.

Ms Black, also a skilled writer and poet, began playing at age 14 in the orchestra of her home city of Kingston, Ontario.

She went on to become concertmaster for the Newfoundland Symphony and Sinfonia from 1994 to 2013, leading the orchestra in summer festivals and collaborations with international artists.

Ms Kayaian described her as “a phenomenal violin player — as a cellist, I loved being able to play chamber music with her”. The two were close friends.

She commended Ms Black’s “very strong and quiet nature — she was very grounded, and she was an incredible teacher for that reason”.

“Those qualities made her such a trusted figure for her students. She was always supportive of them, generous with her time and energy with students and colleagues.”

Ms Kayaian said that to her friend, who was divorced and without children, “her students were her kids”.

A tribute from the society said Ms Black had died peacefully at her home in Canada on July 8, surrounded by her family, after a battle with cancer.

“A gifted violinist, dedicated teacher and accomplished writer, Alison touched the lives of everyone who had the privilege of knowing her,” it added.

“In recent years, she embraced her passion for poetry, creating a remarkable body of work that reflected with honesty, grace, humour and profound insight on her experience living with cancer.

“We were especially grateful to welcome Alison back to Bermuda this past April, when she joined us on stage for our Springtime in Paris concert. That performance now stands as a treasured memory for all of us who shared the stage and audience with her.

“Alison's artistry, generosity, wisdom and friendship will be deeply missed, but her impact will continue to be felt through the many students she taught, the musicians she inspired and the community she helped build.”