OKLAHOMA CITY (ABP) -- Max Lyall, a concert and church pianist who taught for 25 years at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, died unexpectedly Feb. 18. He was 71.

Max Lyall

An accomplished musician who performed as a soloist with symphonies around the world, Lyall, associate minister for music and worship at First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, was best known in Baptist life for his quick wit and as an ambassador for quality church music and worship.

Lyall held music degrees from Oklahoma Baptist University, the University of Oklahoma and the Peabody Conservatory of Music at the Johns Hopkins University. He also studied at Columbia University and the Juilliard School of Music.

He was assistant music editor for the church-music department of the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources) in Nashville, Tenn., from 1963 until 1966. He then taught eight years as associate professor of music at Belmont College (now University), in Nashville, before moving to Golden Gate Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif., in 1974.

After retiring in 1999 at age 60, he served five years as minister of music at Woodbrook Baptist Church in Baltimore before moving to Oklahoma City.

Lyall was the pianist for meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention and Baptist World Alliance. He served on the hymnal committee for the 1991 edition of The Baptist Hymnal. The Southern Baptist Church Music Conference awarded him honorary life membership in 1992.

Funeral services are scheduled at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Guardian West Funeral Home is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers the family requested that donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City Legacy of Care program.

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