
Frances D.H. Prochazka, who died on June 27 at the age of 89, served on the Peabody Preparatory piano faculty for 26 years. Ms. Prochazka and Alexander Prochazka, her husband of 53 years, funded the Susan Fine Langsam Memorial Scholarship, which provides scholarships to Preparatory students. As an active music patron, she sponsored a duo-piano composition by Thomas Hecht, the rebuilding of the piano at St. Matthew Church, and the Music in the Valley concert series at St. John’s Church, Western Run Parish.
After she retired, Ms. Prochazka’s passions for music and horses shaped her travel adventures, both abroad and in the United States. Her daughter, Carol Battye (BM ’78, Piano), was also a longtime faculty artist at the Peabody Preparatory and formerly served as co-chair of the Preparatory Piano Department.
— Carin Morrell