Nancy C. Urrasio

Nancy C. Urrasio of Philadelphia, PA passed away on October 23, 2026. She was 91 yrs. old. 

Nancy was a retired instrumental teacher for the Phila. Public Schools where she taught for 41 years. She also taught at Settlement Music School, and at Combs College. Nancy taught workshops for String Teachers, and her String Ensembles performed in Public Music Festivals, on television, and radio. She also coached string players for many years with the All Philadelphian Junior, and Senior High School Orchestras. performing at the Academy of Music. She also performed professionally in the Phila. Area and in Atlantic City. Nancy also wrote the Course of Study for Strings for the Philadelphia School District and also wrote the Course of Study for Strings for Settlement Music School. 

Under Mayor Wilson Goode she developed a music program sponsored by the Philadelphia Dept. of Recreation to help disadvantaged youth discover their music potential and career goals. Nancy has written musical articles, and has a published edition of a Bach Violin Concerto transcribed for Viola. She also has degrees from the Philadelphia Musical Academy-Diploma in Violin, in 1956; and a B.S. Degree from Temple University in 1959, and a Master of Arts Degree in Musicology from the Univ. of Pennsylvania, 1969. All her College degrees were on Scholarships. She studied violin with Edger Ortenberg of the Budapest String Quartet, Jan Szanto of the Munich String Quartet, and Director of the Phila. Musical Academy, which later became the Univ. of the Arts. She did graduate studies with the Assist, Principal Violist of the Phila. Orchestra Leonard Mogill. 

On October 14th, 1999 Nancy received a Grammy Award and a beautiful engraved wooden music stand from the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences at the Ritz Theater in Philadelphia for her outstanding contributions to music and arts education. She has produced many students who have graduated Curtis Institute of Music, and Juilliard School of Music, and are now playing in Symphony Orchestras. Others have become String Teachers in Public School. Nancy has also received two Awards from Phila. City Council for her teaching. In her retirement Nancy has lectured in the Phila. area, and has also served on the Executive Board of the Avenue of the Arts. 

She is a life member of Hadassah. 

Services will be private. 

Please make a donation to the Chabad of Fairmount, 2025 Spring Garden St., Phila., Pa. 19130.

Arrangements by Joseph Levine & Sons - Blue Bell, PA