DR. ANDA ZIRNITIS

August 11, 2016

Dr. Anda Zirnitis died August 5, 2016 at her home in Canton, Mo. She was born Nov. 14, 1951 at Colorado Springs, Colo., a daughter of Edmunds and Erika Bonders Zirnitis. She married David Larry McSpadden at Hannibal, Mo., on May 6, 1989 and he survives. She was of the Protestant faith. Before her retirement in 2012 Dr. Zirnitis was Professor of Music in charge of keyboard studies and head of the music department at Culver-Stockton College in Canton. She earned degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and the University of Iowa. She premiered major solo and ensemble compositions, which included concertos with the Milwaukee Symphony and at the “Music in the Mountains Festival” in New Platz, NY. Concert tours took her to Europe and Australia. In 1980, the World Federation Fund of Free Latvian Culture awarded her Krisjanis Barons Prize for performance of works done by contemporary Latvian composers. In 1995, she won the Baron Prize for her doctoral dissertation (Jazeps Vitols: His Life, Musical Influence and Compositions for the Piano)which introduced the innovator of Latvian national art music to the non-Latvian speaking community. Dr. Zirnitis received the Helsabeck prize for Teaching Excellence in 1999. Surviving are her husband David Larry McSpadden of Canton; step-sons, David Craig (Fran) McSpadden of Columbia, Mo., and Ryan Jeffrey McSpadden of St. Peters, Mo.; and brother, Aldis Zirnitis of Seattle, WA. She was preceded in death by her parents. Services were held Aug. 9, 2016 at the Davis Funeral Home in Canton, Mo. with Rev. Nancy McSpadden officiating. Inurnment will be at the Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock, Ark. The family suggests memorials be made to the University of Iowa Music Library, the Oberlin Conservatory or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Memorials may left with or mailed to Davis Funeral Home in Canton, Mo.