Dawn Kittrell (St. Mary’s College of Maryland 2005 graduate) died Nov. 27 after losing her fight against breast cancer. The 24-year-old was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in 2004, only months before her scheduled graduation from St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM). After taking time off to fight her disease, she returned to St. Mary’s to graduate cum laude in 2005 with a music degree.
A bright music career beckoned Kittrell prior to her diagnosis. She had risen to concert mistress and principal violinist for the Chamber Orchestra of Southern Maryland in Concert (COSMIC), and had served as concert-mistress of the College’s orchestra.
“She touched many people’s lives with her music and friendship,” said Larry Vote, provost and professor music at SMCM.
In an interview with Bay Weekly, Dawn’s father, Richard, said, “Hope was all Dawn had. At the end, she was still planning ahead.”
A memorial service to celebrate Kittrell’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 18 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, 333 DuBois Rd. The service will include performances from several of Kittrell’s teachers, classmates and musicians from the Chamber Orchestra and Chesapeake Youth Symphony.