James 'Jamie' Michael Dietz, Accomplished Musician, Dies At 33

Courtesy of Layton's Funeral Home:

James "Jamie" Michael Deitz, 33, of Lanoka Harbor, NJ, passed away peacefully on Oct. 1, 2016 surrounded by his devoted parents.

Jamie was born in Point Pleasant, NJ and was raised in Lacey Township. A world class percussionist and musician, Jamie graduated from Lacey Township High School and The Julliard School Pre-College.

He received his BSM from The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where he won The Albert Greenfield Concerto competition of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Jamie obtained his MMA and Artist Diploma from Yale School of Music. While at Yale, Jamie was honored with both The Theodore Presser Award and Yale School of Music Dean's Prize. He completed a Teaching Artist Fellowship with The Academy—a program of Carnegie Hall, The Julliard School and The Weill Music Institute.

Jamie's musical career included solo, orchestral, chamber and ensemble performances, throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. He recorded for New Amsterdam, CGA Records & Equilibrium. Jamie was an avid reader and prolific writer of poetry. Although music was his greatest passion, Jamie also loved the theater, fine arts, cooking and spending time with his family and pets, Buddy and Archie.

Jamie was predeceased by his maternal and paternal grandfathers Erik Carlson and George Deitz.

He is survived by his loving parents Anne Claire (Carlson) and Michael Deitz. He is also survived by his brothers David and wife Erin and Mark and wife Christy; his maternal and paternal grandmothers Yvette Carlson and Margaret Deitz, his nieces and nephews: Molly, Meghan, Mackenzie, Emma, Tommy, Collin and Libby.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2016, at Layton's Home for Funerals, 250 W. Lacey Road in Forked River. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 7, 2016 at St. Pius X Church, 300 Lacey Road in Forked River.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of James Deitz may be made to a music education foundation - Project 440, 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 320, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (info@project440.org) or Popcorn Park Zoo, 1 Humane Way PO Box 43, Forked River, NJ 08731.

To send condolences, share photos with the family, or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit www.laytons.net.

Image: Patch file photo