Evan Tonsing

June 6, 2017

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Evan A. Tonsing, 77, passed away on June 6, 2017, in Tulsa, OK. He was born on June 19, 1939, in Valley Falls, KS, to Rev. Ernest Tonsing and Dorothy Louise Peterson. He was raised in Topeka, KS, and graduated from Topeka High school in 1957. He attended Kansas University, where he studied music. After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in cello performance at KU, he taught music and conducted the orchestra at Amarillo College. He subsequently taught cello, string base, and music theory and composition at Oklahoma State University. Evan was a prolific composer, creating more than 400 pieces for solo and combinations of instruments and voices. Several of his compositions were award winning. In addition, he received the Distinguished Service Award for Programming for the National Public Radio series of world music programs, known as “What in the World,” for KOSU-FM in Stillwater. He often demonstrated his collection of exotic instruments in his music classes. He also had many recordings of the Pawnee Nation language and music and often distribute them to anyone who wanted them. He made recordings of native Pawnee speakers to preserve the language and persuaded Pawnee elders to hold classes in the Pawnee language. Through his efforts, a significant amount of the Pawnee cultural heritage has been preserved. He was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his brother, Ernest, as well as several cousins.