Eugene Cline, a recently retired University of Idaho music educator, died in his home April 4 at the age of 75.
Cline, a vocal coach and collaborative pianist with UI’s Lionel Hampton School of Music, worked at the university from 2008 to 2018. He retired from the university during the 2018 spring semester.
Cline worked as an accompanist and coach in New York for 25 years. In his more than 50 years of experience as a performer, coach and accompanist, Cline taught at Louisiana State University and The University of Tennessee at Martin before coming to UI.
Pamela Bathurst, a UI associate professor of voice, said Cline worked closely with the program’s students during his tenure with the university.
Eugene Cline
Cline, Bathurst said, was both a gentle and demanding presence when working with students.
“Many students appreciated that he pushed them to work harder than they believed that they could,” Bathurst said.
For Matthew Bosley, a music business and arts administration major, Cline was an influential educator and life mentor.
For many students such as Bosley, Cline was a support system inside and outside the classroom.
Throughout Bosley’s Upper Division Standing (UDS), a musical performance and exam, Bosley said Cline helped to ease his nerves while preparing.
“Once I finished, he was the first to tell me I passed my UDS and that he was proud of me,” Bosley said.
Even when Cline wasn’t working with students, Susan Billin said he was always talking about music education. Once an organ professor with the Lionel Hampton School of Music, Billin said she and Cline would often chat about teaching challenges and upcoming student performances over coffee.
In addition to Cline’s educational presence, Billin said he was a wonderful pianist and collaborator.
“It was always a pleasure to hear him play the piano for singers — he had a gift for style, collaborative skills and expressive playing,” Billin said. “He could make the piano sound like an orchestra, and was able to change his touch on the key to many different ‘colors’ demanded by the text of a song.”
Bathurst said Cline’s “big, resonant voice and larger-than-life laugh” will be missed in the Moscow community. Bosley said students will remember him similarly.
“He was such an amazing human being and influential professor,” Bosley said. “His spirit and humor will be missed.”
Billin said Cline always wanted to help others be the best version of themselves.
“Gene always demanded the best of himself, and from those who worked with him, like students,” Billin said. “Gene’s passion for teaching and sharing his knowledge and love for great musical literature pervaded all aspects of his work — with students, colleagues and friends. He was generous with his time and talent, and a most compassionate human being.”
Cline is survived by his wife, two step-sons and a granddaughter. Funeral plans for Cline have not been arranged at this time.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected]
Mike Durand
For some reason I decided to look on the net tonight to see how Gene was doing. I had not seen him in probably 45-50 years. I don't know why I thought about him tonight other than the fact that Gene was pretty unforgettable, even after almost a half a century. I knew Gene at LSU. My then wife was in the drama department and I met him through that channel. We were never what you would call best of friends, but we were friends. I just thought I'd let his friends outside of Louisiana know that from what I read in this article he had not really changed much. Friendly as could be. Kind. Big booming voice. Brilliant musician. Terrific teacher. A good friend. I was saddened by the news of his passing. RIP, old friend.