JU mourns loss of Dr. Jon Carlson; former longtime music professor, choral director, division chair

Retired music Prof. Dr. Jon O. Carlson, who served as Jacksonville University’s choral director from 1978 to 2010 and chaired the JU Division of Music from 1991 to 2001, passed away Friday, Nov. 1. He was 71.

Dr. Carlson used choral music as a tool for cultural enrichment at the university and throughout the community. As a clinician, conductor and director, his choirs represented Jacksonville throughout the Southeast and in a performance tour in England.

Dr. Carlson conducted a community chamber choir and the St. Johns Art Singers, directed the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus and the Southside United Methodist Church music program, and was instrumental in founding the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus at JU.

The family will receive visitors from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at Hardage-Giddens’ Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd. The internment will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, in Oaklawn Cemetery. A celebration-of-life service will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Southside United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be made to the Liles Memorial Music Fund at Southside United Methodist Church, the Choral Music Scholarship Fund at Jacksonville University, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, or the Dr. Jon O. Carlson Memorial Scholarship Fund with the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus.

Dr. Carlson’s obituary in the Florida Times-Union provides additional details on his life and contributions. Click here to read it and sign the guestbook.