Kandela Groves

Carol Jeanne Thompson Tornquist [Kandela Groves] USA 1945-2022, Born at Youngsville, PA, she was a musical prodigy, playing piano at age four. She studied at Warren Conservatory of Music, Warren, PA. She later obtained a degree in Music Education from State U of NY, at Fredonia, NY. She could play both by ear and with music. She also took courses in Spanish and Russian. No information found regarding her husband (Tornquist), but they had a son, Christopher McMillen, with whom she remained close the rest of her life. She taught vocal music in upstate NY while serving as instructor for the International Yamaha Music School. Her brother, John. In 1916 he married Loretta Katherine Foy (1892-1951), and they had two sons: John James and Charles Leslie. He returned to Philadelphia and taught music, then moved to Indianapolis, IN, and continued teaching music. Thompson, a songwriter in Nashville, TN, offered her a job there writing piano transcriptions. That led to her career as a Christian music arranger. Meanwhile she led choir and played organ at various churches, including St Bartholomew Episcopal Church and Christ Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN. She later worked for Word Music as a Christian music arranger. She also found time to teach piano and lead in worship at nursing homes. Over her career, she authored at least 130 books of Christian music arrangements. Her works include various piano instructions for all skill levels. She created solo keyboard collections for various artists, including Susan Boyle. Church musicians and music students use her various arrangements for worship services, and her many music books are still for sale. Her signature creative harmonic and rhythmic settings provide a fresh, new context for familiar melodies. She was also an author for Alfred Music. She died at Nashville, TN.

John Perry