Over the Summer, Rio Hondo Music Professor, composer, and performer Steve Moshier passed away after suffering a cardiac event at the age of 65. Moshier had been a full-time professor at Rio since 1995 and taught Music Theory, Fundamentals of Music, Musicianship, Electronic Music, and Music History. Over the past 34 years, he had been a part of several diverse musical ensembles. He was a co-founder and composer for the music ensemble Cartesian Reunion Memorial Orchestra, for which he created over 30 compositions. For the past 14 years, he had also composed and performed with his electric-acoustic chamber ensemble, Liquid Skin Ensemble. At Rio, he worked with The Music Ensemble for Diverse Instruments and Workman Mill Industrial Orchestra. Moshier’s work spans across several platforms including compositions for theatre, dance, and performance artists.

Associate Professor of Music at Rio Hondo, Jannine Livingston, had known Moshier for many years and performed alongside him in Liquid Skin Ensemble. Livingston said she was shocked upon hearing of her colleague’s death. She expressed “He was regarded very highly, he was a great teacher, and passionate about his music. He really changed students’ lives.” She said that she would describe Moshier as being “passionate, patient, and intense. He would pull the music out of you. Rio has suffered a real loss.”

Moshier was teaching Summer music classes at Rio up until his death. Chris Hernandez, a music major, was a student in one of Moshier’s last classes. He said that he and fellow classmates were shocked when they found out that Moshier had passed. Hernandez said “We saw him the week before and he was fine, happy and smiling. He was giving everyone high- fives and the last thing he told me was ‘See you Monday!’” Hernandez went on to say “He influenced me by telling me to focus on music as an art and not as a trade. Moshier wore his heart on his sleeve, he was the best teacher I ever had.”

Moshier had received several honors and awards for his compositions, which have been performed internationally. He was named the honorary “Artistic Associate Composer” in 1989 by Los Angeles Theater Center, and received the “L.A. Weekly Theater Critics” award, amongst numerous other accolades and nominations. Moshier lived in Garden Grove and is survived by his wife, Cynthia. A memorial service was held September 12th in the Wray Theater to honor his life and dedication to music. Professor Moshier will be missed by Rio Hondo students and staff.