Thomas Stirling

WARSAW — The staff, board and all members of the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts family announce with sadness and regret the passing of Wagon Wheel’s Musical Supervisor Thomas Stirling.   

Stirling, who was an accomplished string and keyboard musician and composer, was also the musical director and conductor of the Symphony of the Lakes orchestra. Stirling has been with the Wagon Wheel family since 2006 and had been full-time in the musical post since 2013.

Stirling just last Sunday, Dec. 16, completed an enormously successful run of “Elf the Musical” which played to thousands of area school field trip and adult audiences over the pre-Christmas season. He was also looking forward to the opening of his own teaching studio after the first of the year and the assumption of a local church organist position.

“Words cannot express how deep this loss is,” said Scott Michaels, artistic director. Michaels has worked most closely with Stirling in the many musical productions that are part of each Wagon Wheel season.

Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts board chair Deb Bishop said, “We are heartbroken to lose this talented, loyal, brilliant musician. Tom was loved by all who sang or played for him, and his impact on generations of younger performers will be one of his best legacies.”

Jay Michaels, executive director of Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, said, “A loss like this is felt at the deepest level. Not only are we grieving his loss from our organization, but our hearts go out to his family members for their deep loss at this holiday time of year.”

As more information becomes available, announcements will be made about any celebration of life services or memorial opportunities.