SANTA BARBARA, CA -- Friends, family and multitudes of former students from all over the world are remembering beloved Santa Barbara choral director and composer Phyllis Zimmerman.  Zimmerman passed away Wednesday morning after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.  Zimmerman was the director of Santa Barbara High School and Madrigal singers for 26 years.

After her retirement she directed many of her alumni other singers in a group called "canticle."  In addition to her choral directing, Zimmerman was known for publishing many original choral pieces.  Her greatest impact was instilling an appreciation of discipline and the beauty of music in her students.  Many students will recall her saying "silence is the picture frame around music."

Phyllis Zimmerman was 78 years old.