Oregon House conductor made music a joy to play

Maestro Michael Goodwin was "a beautiful, musical gift" to the North State community, according to colleagues and friends.

"He was so into the music that it made you want to forget everything else and just play," said Helen Graham, a Yuba City violinist.

Graham played under Goodwin's baton for various orchestras over the last three years, and said the 65-year-old Auburn symphony orchestra conductor never let his musicians cut corners during rehearsals, demanded complete focus and always made sure the music was a joy to play.

Tragically, Goodwin, an Oregon House resident, was killed Tuesday after his truck went off Highway 20 near Smartsville. The well-known North State musician was on his way to rehearsal in Auburn around 5:45 p.m. when his vehicle collided with another car traveling in the opposite direction, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Alcohol was not a factor, investigators said.

Witnesses said Goodwin had passed several vehicles before approaching a sweeping bend in the roadway. Goodwin was traveling "at a speed that was unsafe" for the rain-slick roadway, the CHP reported.

Goodwin's Toyota lost traction and spun, counterclockwise, into the westbound traffic lane, directly in front of an oncoming vehicle driven by Delta Dawn Armtrout.

The vehicles collided and went off the north side of the road, slid 40 to 50 feet down a steep, muddy embankment into heavy foliage and tall trees.

Goodwin was pronounced dead at the scene.

Armtrout was driving with her two sons, Michael, 15, and Brody, 6. All three sustained minor injuries, including complaints of back and neck pain and were taken to the Rideout Memorial Hospital emergency room where they were treated and released, hospital staff reported Wednesday.

The tightly-knit, grief-stricken North State music community was stunned by the passing of the locally famous musical master.

"He was really kind of a rock star in this little world," said Rob Haswell, business manager for the Auburn Symphony, where Goodwin directed the orchestra for more than 17 years. "I'm grateful I had the opportunity to know him."

Sutter County cellist Rebekah Hood described Goodwin as "charismatic," "meticulous," and said his ability to teach and connect with audiences was "unmatched."

"He was phenomenal that way, very much and engaging," Hood said.

Longtime friends David Springfield and Nick Spaulding remembered Goodwin as a brilliant teacher as much as a conductor and musician.

"He had this wonderful ability to push and get the most out of people without being overbearing," Springfield said.

Goodwin is survived by his sister, Wendy Buckingham, who lives in Australia.

A private service is planned Saturday at the Fellowship of Friends in Oregon House. Other services, memorials and vigils, including a tribute concert, are also in the works, but no dates have been finalized.

Born in 1946 in London, Goodwin studied music at Leeds University, the Guildhall School of Music and the London Opera Centre. He later received a master's degree in Baroque Performance Practice at California State University, Chico.

Goodwin performed and taught all over the world, including stints with the Sydney Symphony and the Tasmanian Symphony in Australia. In 1976, Goodwin was appointed as the chorus director with the Teheran Opera in Iran and later worked with opera companies in Germany.

Goodwin came to the United States in 1981 and helped build from scratch what would become known as the Apollo Orchestra and Chorus in the Sierra foothills in Oregon House.

Goodwin was credited for helping increase membership at the Auburn Symphony every year after he joined.

In addition to his reputation as a first-rate conductor, Goodwin was also known as an accomplished pianist, well-versed in the classics, friends recalled.

For nearly the last decade of his life, Goodwin each year organized a traditional "family-oriented" concerts known as the "Kinderkonzert."

Goodwin was on his way to rehearse the show, which was scheduled to open Saturday at the Auburn opera house.

It is not clear if that performance will be canceled, but many of Goodwin's friends are hoping the show will be able to go on.

"I think that's what Michael would want us to do," Haswell said.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.