Virginia Beach mother honors life of murdered ODU student

By Sharon Cindrich

Correspondent

VIRGINIA BEACH -- “She was musical from the time she was little,” said Kate Loring of her daughter, Claire. The Virginia Beach mom plays a CD with her then 6-year-old belting out lyrics to a popular childhood song.

“Oh Mister Sun, Sun, Mister Golden Sun, please shine down on me...”

The recording is more than 20 years old and one of the many musical memories left behind by Claire Cucchiari-Loring. When she died suddenly at 22 years old, friends and family came together to keep her memory and passion for music alive.

This year marks the fourth annual “Her Melody Lingers On,” a concert at Old Dominion University celebrating a young woman and her love for jazz. Proceeds benefit the Claire Cucchiari-Loring Memorial Scholarship.

Growing up in the Alanton neighborhood, Cucchiari-Loring was a talented young musician with a passion for singing.

She participated in chorus and school musicals at First Colonial High School. As part of a local musical group called the Young Razzcals, Cucchiari-Loring had the opportunity to perform at the Telluride Jazz Festival in Colorado.

When it came time for college, she chose Old Dominion University.

“It was a wonderful place for her,” Loring said. “The music department was small and very much like a family in a lot of ways.”

John Toomey, chairman of ODU’s Music Department and Cucchiari-Loring’s jazz professor, identified her as having “a strong natural talent as a jazz vocalist.”

He featured her as a soloist in a 2006 Jazz Choir concert.

Sadly, it was one of her last performances.

In the days following the concert, Cucchiari-Loring was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, who then killed himself.

When her life ended abruptly, friends and family came together to create a lasting legacy that would reflect Cucchiari-Loring’s free spirit and passion for music. The scholarship is available to help ODU music students with tuition costs.

“I was thinking we could do something to raise money for the scholarship – something successful enough to be an annual event,” Loring said. “Music was an obvious choice.”

An ensemble of volunteers, friends and family came together to produce a successful first concert and then a second. By the third year, the benefit had raised a total $15,000 in scholarship money.

Now in its fourth year, “Her Memory Lingers On” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday in ODU’s Diehn Fine Arts and Performing Center in Norfolk. The event will feature musical performances, a raffle, light refreshments and a cash bar.

The concert opens with a selection by the college’s Jazz Choir and then features Karl Werne, whom Tommey describes as a dynamic performer and singer/songwriter.

“He will be joined by top notch musicians from the Hampton Roads area and Outer Banks,” Toomey said.

“Karl’s music touches on folk, pop and jazz and is very eclectic. I think Claire would love Karl’s energy and his clear passion for music.”

With an outpouring of support from local businesses and the community, Loring expects this year’s benefit to hit a high note.

“The concert hall only holds 230,” said Loring, “I expect it to be a full house.”