James Foster

Dr. Lyn Ransom conducting the Braham’s Ein Deutsches Requiem as her final concert with the Voices Chorale, the organization she founded, supported, and conducted for 30 years. Both Ken Guilmartin, her husband, and Gail Ransom, her sister are singing in the chorus.

Well, they had to get it from somewhere.....here are Lyn, Gail, and Jan dancing at Jan’s daughter Lauren’s wedding to Dana Brown in Laguna Beach, CA.

Lyn Ransom and her husband, Ken Guilmartin at Gail’s daughter Shira’s wedding to Eli Center in Pitts-burgh, PA.

The three Ransom sisters celebrating Jan’s daughter Stephanie’s wedding in Puerto Vallarta.

Lynne (Lyn) Marcia Ransom, of Hopewell Township, a lifelong musician and composer whose spunk, generosity, and intellect transcended genres and generations, stepped down from the conductor’s podium on Dec. 14, 2018, at age 71.

Lyn was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and raised in Martinsville, Ind., where her family nurtured in her a love for music and education. A graduate of Oberlin College, she followed her passions wherever they led, including teaching at universities, writing early childhood curriculum for the HighScope Foundation, directing music at the Princeton United Methodist Church, and hitchhiking to India, where she studied sitar for a year with Vilayat Kahn. Lyn later earned graduate degrees at Eastern Michigan University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Cincinnati, where she received a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting.

In 1987, Lyn founded Voices Chorale, a Princeton-area ensemble that toured Europe three times and premiered dozens of new works. She also served as a guest conductor throughout the region. In 1992, Lyn was honored by the Princeton, N.J. Arts Council for her outstanding contributions to the area’s cultural life and in 2007 by the YWCA Tribute to Women. In 2017, Chorus America awarded its Education and Community Engagement Award to Voices, citing how it "exemplifies the highest commitment to education and outreach programs." Unique among these is Lyn’s Young Composers Project in which over 500 elementary school children have created compositions and heard them performed by Voices.

After three decades as artistic director, Lyn celebrated her retirement as she conducted the Voices Chorale and full orchestra in a stirring performance of Johannes Brahms’ "A German Requiem."

In 1998, Lyn began working with Music Together, the internationally acclaimed early childhood music program, first directing their lab school, then teacher training and certification, and finally co-authoring the Music Together Preschool program. Lyn’s work has touched millions of children around the world through this program — which she got to experience first-hand as a grandma!

Diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2005, Lyn’s creative response was key to her ongoing recovery: she began composing "Cancer Coping Songs," using humor and music for alleviation. Even after the cancer returned in 2014, Lyn thrived for years, writing and performing more Cancer Coping Songs, conducting major works with Voices, and being a loving wife, mother, sister and grandmother.

She died peacefully in her home, with her husband at her side.

Predeceased by her parents, Hugh Wristler and Audrey Faye (Banta) Ransom, Lyn is survived by her husband, Kenneth K. Guilmartin; her son, Coray Seifert and his wife, Katie; her daughter, Sophia Seifert and her husband, Dan Lopez-Braus; her stepdaughter, Lauren Kells Guilmartin and her husband, James Barry; her grandchildren, Jackson and Alicia Seifert; her sister, Gail Sandra Ransom; her sister, Janice (Ransom) Kerchner and her husband, Jim Kerchner; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2018, at 2:00 PM, at Trinity Church in Princeton, NJ, located at 33 Mercer Street.

Contributions designated for the Young Composers Project Fund may be made to Voices Chorale, NJ. 

Lyn with her grandchildren, Allie and Jackson Seifert.

Posted on: Jan 04, 2019 at 11:50 AM

Welcome Kathryn! Glad you joined!

Posted on: Jul 09, 2018 at 8:57 PM

Randy, hope all is well and that I will see you at the reunion?

Posted on: Jul 01, 2018 at 4:19 PM

Happy Birthday Marv! Hope you have a great one!

Happy Birthday Jim! Remember that trip we took to Illinois with your Aunt?

Happy Birthday Steph! Blessings to you & Bill and good health.

Happy Birthday Elaine!