With sadness, we write in loving memory of Alice Pratt and Baiba Peelle - two remarkable faculty members who have left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds. We remember their extraordinary contributions, the ripple effect their influence had, at Hochstein and beyond, and the legacies they leave behind.
These exceptional educators exemplified unwavering dedication, inspiring countless students and colleagues with their wisdom, passion, and commitment to fostering knowledge and growth.
Together, we carry their torch forward, ensuring that their impact lives on in the hearts and minds of all who knew them.
Alice Pratt:
Alice was the Director of the Hochstein Little Singers and department head and instructor for Hochstein’s Music FUNdamental classes. She was a former winner of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s Music Educators Award and multiple year inductee in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
In addition to her work at Hochstein, where she was honored with the Outstanding Service Award for 2016, Pratt was also on the faculty of Nazareth College. She taught music for the Rochester City Schools for 33 years and served as national conference co-chair for the American Orff Schulwerk Association Professional Development Conference and on their National Board of Trustees.
A graduate of Nazareth College, where she received her B.S. in Music Education and was the recipient of their 2016 Outstanding Alumna Award, she was a published composer and author, and frequent presenter for AOSA, Canada Orff, and the New York State School Music Association. A certified Orff Schulwerk instructor, her postgraduate work included the Eastman School and SUNY Fredonia.
Remembrances:
Peggy Quackenbush - former Hochstein President & Executive Director
How thrilled we were when Alice Pratt accepted our invitation to join the Hochstein faculty! We knew about her reputation as a renowned music teacher in the Rochester City District, her leadership in Orff-Schulwerk circles locally and nationally, and all the expertise and experience she would bring to our program. What we were so privileged to experience directly was Alice's delight and creativity in making and sharing music, the joy she exuded in working with children, and her thoughtful, endlessly supportive leadership in mentoring new teachers. All these contributed so greatly to our School throughout her time with us. Alice's legacy lives on in every child she taught, every parent who witnessed the impact of her work on their child, and every teacher who benefitted from her guidance. Personally, I'll always remember Alice's great smile, her exuberant direction of the Hochstein Little Singers, and her deep commitment to our mission. I'm filled with gratitude for all she gave to so many of us.
Barb Bonisteel - Instructor, Music FUNdamentals, The Hochstein School
Every once in a while, someone is placed in your path, walks part of life’s journey with you, influences and invests in you, leaving you changed forever. Alice was this not only for myself but for every student and family lucky to be touched by her magic. She inspired every child that walked into her classroom and right into her heart. I loved walking into her classroom, it was a visual rainbow of artwork and music posters for “her” children, her students, “the one small voice ringing clear for the whole world to hear.”
Gary Palmer – Assistant Director & Dean – The Hochstein School
Alice was a beloved faculty member at Hochstein from 2007-2020, and before that had a 33-year career as a teacher in the Rochester City School District. She was also a mentor-teacher to music education students at Nazareth College and mentor/friend to decades of music education colleagues throughout Rochester and beyond. She was a true legend in music education circles - one of those teachers who was a role model and gold standard to others; she saw each child as an individual and found ways to inspire every student with whom she worked. I first met her when I was observing one of her classes at RCSD School #16 for my graduate program and was mesmerized by her teaching - it was my goal to get her to teach at Hochstein at some point, and was thrilled when she was interested in joining join our faculty when she retired from RCSD. Her Little Singers and Stepping Stones classes at Hochstein were inspirational and she became part of the essential fabric of Hochstein. Her passing was a true loss for the entire community.
Maryellen Giese – Director, Hochstein Youth Singers & Hochstein Singers
Alice PRATT was TREASURE and I LOVED teaching with her here at Hochstein! Alice was thrilled and excited to start up our Hochstein Little Singers right after she retired. She brought with her not only her vast experience teaching elementary general music for years in the city schools, but also her overflowing love of singing with children. Our Hochstein Family will be forever grateful for the joy of singing that Alice fostered in her students. Her legacy lives on through our Little Singers and our Hochstein Youth Singers … and beyond our doors to the thousands of singing adults she taught over the years!
In memory of Alice Pratt, donations will be gratefully accepted by The Hochstein School.
Hochstein's mission is to provide people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities with access to excellent music education in a nurturing environment that encourages personal achievement. Any donations sent in honor of Alice Pratt will go to our need-based tuition assistance program, and will provide opportunity to deserving students throughout our community.
Checks should be made payable to The Hochstein School and sent to The Hochstein School, Attn: Development Office, 50 N. Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, NY 14614.
Baiba Peelle:
Born in Augsburg, Germany, Baiba and her parents – who were refugees from the Russian invasion of Latvia in 1944 – emigrated to the United States in 1950 and settled in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Baiba excelled at her studies, including the piano, and she won a number of local and regional piano competitions. While in high school, she started teaching piano students in her home; she remained a dedicated piano teacher all her life until her retirement in 2019.
Baiba earned a B.A. in Music from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio and an M.M. in Piano Performance at the University of Illinois, Urbana, IL. Subsequently, she completed all the course work for a D.M.A. in Piano at the Cleveland Institute of Music/CWRU.
In 2008, she began studies at Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, and received her M. Div. in 2011. She served as interim pastor at Trinity Covenant Church and as Associate Pastor at Park Ridge Free Methodist Church and Community of the Savior Free Methodist Church, all in Rochester, NY. In 2010, she completed her chaplaincy internship and residency at Strong Memorial Hospital and served as chaplain there and at Unity Hospital until 2018.
The most important thing to Baiba was her family. They will treasure her dedication, intentionality, sense of justice, and love for humanity.
Remembrances:
Gary Palmer – Assistant Director & Dean – The Hochstein School
Baiba was one of those teachers who had the utmost standards for her students, and looked for many ways to challenge them to reach their fullest potential. She was always engaged with her piano colleagues in conversation about repertoire and new ways to help a student succeed. At the same time, she was such a caring individual who had a heart for social issues and students/families in need. As her son eloquently stated on Facebook, "As an immigrant herself, she felt a special kinship for people who identify as outsiders for any reason and believed we all have a duty to care for people less fortunate than ourselves." It is no surprise that Baiba had a parallel life as a pastor and chaplain, and she had a great impact on everyone she touched in both spheres of her life.
Joe Werner – Co-chair, Hochstein Piano Department
I used to look forward to seeing Baiba on Friday afternoons in the basement piano corridor before our teaching days began. In those few moments each week, she managed to sooth that noisy hallway with her warmth, elegance, and ineffable smile. Always ready with large doses of kindness for everyone, we will miss her terribly.
In memory of Baiba Peelle, donations will be gratefully accepted by The Hochstein School.
Hochstein's mission is to provide people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities with access to excellent music education in a nurturing environment that encourages personal achievement. Any donations sent in honor of Baiba Peelle will go to our need-based tuition assistance program, and will provide opportunity to deserving students throughout our community.
Checks should be made payable to The Hochstein School and sent to The Hochstein School, Attn: Development Office, 50 N. Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, NY 14614.