UNC School of the Arts is mourning the death of Robert Franz, an alumnus who came back to lead the school's symphony orchestra in 2023.

Franz died on Tuesday after a five-year struggle with cancer.

Chancellor Brian Cole announced Franz's death in an email to the UNCSA community earlier this week.

"This is devastating news for our community, and particularly for our School of Music. Robert was beloved by his students, fellow faculty and the entire music community as a true musician’s musician. He loved what he did, particularly making music with our students. It was his calling," Cole said in his email.

A native of Davidson, Franz graduated from UNCSA in 1990 with a Bachelor of Music degree in oboe performance then became the school’s first graduate student in conducting, earning a mast

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