Walter Philip Dunigan

Walter Philip Dunigan, 89, died peacefully at home on August 1, 2023 surrounded by his family.  Born on December 26, 1933 in Miami, Florida, Dunigan was a musician and scholar.  After attending Juilliard, he began a touring career as solo flutist with the Mantovanni  Orchestra. This was followed by engagements with the Roman Totenberg Chamber Ensemble, principal flutist with the Royal Ballet of England and two national tours with the Robert Shaw Chorale. Once established as a freelance musician in New York City, Dunigan performed in such orchestras as the Symphony of the Air, the Esterhazy Orchestra, the Clarion Concerts Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the New York City Opera and the  New York City Ballet. He played in numerous Broadway shows and was a founding member of the Clarion Wind Quintet. He left a busy career performing in New York City to move with his young family to Winston-Salem in 1965 where he joined the faculty of the newly opened North Carolina School of the Arts.  He was a beloved flute teacher, teaching there from 1965 to 2002. Many of his flute students went on to have successful careers nationally and internationally.  During his tenure at NCSA, he toured with the Clarion Wind Quintet and served as the principal flutist of the Winston-Salem Symphony. He also performed with the Piedmont Chamber Orchestra and various other local ensembles.  Upon his retirement from NCSA, Dunigan volunteered at the Moravian Music Foundation, where he was an invaluable researcher of history and music. He spearheaded what was perceived as an “audacious” project of recording and publishing the collected works of the top American Moravian composers.  Dunigan is survived by his wife, Melynda Dunigan, daughters Orin Dunigan, Breon Dunigan, Seanad Dunigan Chang and husband Wei-Tsun Chang, Siobhan Dunigan, grandsons Max Dunigan and wife, Amanda Dunigan, Liam Bailey and great-granddaughter Madeline Martha Dunigan. Donations may be made to the Moravian Music Foundation, 457 South Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC  27101. There will be a memorial concert at a later date.

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