Celebrating Two Lives in Music: Loren R. Withers & Charles F. T. Nakarai
Music is not just about performance — it’s about the people who dedicate their lives to teaching, inspiring, and shaping future generations. Two such remarkable figures, Loren R. Withers and Charles F. T. Nakarai, left legacies that continue to resonate in our musical community. Though their journeys were unique, both shared an unwavering commitment to excellence, scholarship, and humanity.
Loren R. Withers (1900–1996)
Duke University Professor of Music, Loren R. Withers, was celebrated for both his artistry and teaching. Born in Monett, Missouri, he cultivated a lifelong passion for piano. He studied at the University of Kansas and in New York City before joining Duke University’s faculty, where he became a beloved professor. One of Withers’s students, Yoko Nozaki, won the MTNA National Piano Competition in 1964–65. She later studied at Juilliard and married concert pianist Emanuel Ax, who appeared at several of Withers’s summer workshops.
Teaching & Leadership
A founding member of the Durham Music Teachers Association (DMTA), Withers later served as President of the North Carolina Music Teachers Association (1981–1983). His lecture-recital series, Piano Literature and Performance, regularly drew more than 100 attendees. From Barbara Furr, former student and NCMTA member: “Loren Withers was a fine teacher and an equally fine human being. As a teacher, he brought music to life. He hummed, he sang, he made up words to the music, he LIVED the music as he taught lessons. I owe so much of my awakened musicality and understanding to his influence, and can still hear his words of encouragement and discovery in every work I studied and performed under his tutelage. He has greatly influenced the way I teach, and I will forever be grateful to him as a teacher, performer, and human. He was a joy.”
Charles F. T. Nakarai (1936–2010)
Born in Indianapolis, Charles Nakarai studied piano with Vilora Kelley, organ with Ellen English, and accompanied students of Margaret Friermood and Farrell Scott. He graduated cum laude from Butler University in 1958, joining Phi Kappa Phi, and served as organist and choir director at multiple churches. After college, Nakarai joined the U.S. Air Force, serving in Minnesota, Spain, and Florida. Returning to Butler, he earned a Master of Music in organ and pursued doctoral studies in musicology at UNC Chapel Hill. Nakarai taught at Milligan College before moving to Durham, where he taught piano privately for decades. He was a lifetime honorary member of the Durham Music Teachers Association and served on the Executive Board of the North Carolina Music Teachers Association. He passed away at age 74 at Duke University Hospital, leaving behind decades of influence as a teacher, scholar, and musician.
Teaching & Legacy
From teacher and DMTA member Jane Hurlburt: “In his typical and unassuming manner, Charles managed consistently to support his students, his colleagues, and their students, with encouraging remarks and complimentary observations. Because of his faithful attendance at so many festivals and public performances, he subtly but significantly influenced our playing and teaching: “wonderful phrasing;” “he reads really well;” “that is not an easy piece;” and much more. Now that Charles is no longer with us for immediate conversation, we shall have to try – in his memory – to speak to each other as constructively and supportively as he did among us.”
Founding DMTA member Susan Kosempa remembers Charles as an intelligent, kind, and deeply dedicated piano teacher whose careful preparation led to his students’ consistent success. A devoted member and leader in the Durham Music Teachers Association, he was known for his reliability, musical knowledge, and willingness to help others. He is remembered with great affection for both his professionalism and his thoughtful, generous spirit.
Long time friend, neighbor and teacher Jan Perry shares “I met Charles at my first DMTA meeting in 1989. He was so welcoming. We were both night people and often talked several hours into the early morning. He was so kind and patient answering any questions I may have, never making me feel ignorant. We shared many meals and wonderful conversations. He was a great colleague but more importantly became a great friend!. If pictures were included with words in the dictionary, Charles' picture would be next to the word 'gentleman'. He truly was a gentleman.”
Shared Dedication
Because of Loren Withers’ and Charles Nakarai’s shared lifelong devotion to music, teaching, and mentorship in our community, the Durham Music Teachers Association honors their legacy by naming our annual middle school piano competition after them. Both helped shape the musical landscape of Durham and North Carolina through their leadership in DMTA, NCMEA, and beyond.
Their legacies endure not only in awards and professional accomplishments, but in the countless students who carry forward their love of music.
