Access & Use

Historical Note
In 1874, Albion College developed a chair of vocal and instrumental music, which was filled by Professor W. Haverman. The creation of this chair set the stage for the birth of the Albion College Conservatory of Music. In 1875, the Conservatory of Music was established with studies available in piano, organ, vocalization, music theory and composition. Students with the musical knowledge of notation and vocal ability were encouraged to join the Choral Society. The entire staff at this time consisted of William Haverman, instructor of vocal and instrumental music, and his wife, Julia, guitar instructor.

In 1892, Carl B. Scheffler was director of the Conservatory, as well as a professor of piano, harmony and counterpoint. Other faculty included part-time positions held by Jennie Worthington, piano instructor; Ella Brockway, music history professor; Mattie Reynolds, voice culture professor; Minnie Powers, piano instructor; Jennie Whitcomb, instructor of piano and organ; and Cora Travis, instructor of piano and voice.

In 1896, the Orchestra was founded.

Professor Charles Adams, director of the Conservatory in 1897, drew up plans for the May Music Festival to be given by the Conservatory. With the help of local businessmen, the Festival was a success, bringing in artists of national acclaim. By 1902, however, the idea of holding an annual festival was held off until 1904 to give the Albion audience to chance to recuperate.

Also in 1902, the College Glee Club was founded, under the direction of Mr. Albert Gale. This talented group of 16 men went on to Michigan champions.

In 1903, Dr. Frank Wilbur Chace became the new director of music and re-organized the Choral Union. The Union performed 4 concerts a year and included musicians from the City of Albion as well as students from the College.

In 1907, the St. Cecilia Music Club, an honorary ladies' chorus, was founded. In 1909, a group of men from the College, named the Apollo Quintette, gave a tour in many of the large cities in Michigan. They received enthusiastic praise wherever they performed. Stops on their tour included St. Johns, Grandledge, Turner, East Tawas, Tawas City, Caro, Lapeer, Troy, and Detroit.

By 1911, the Conservatory was growing in number and in reputation. New courses were being offered each year and expansions were being made in the requirements for the students. During this time, pianos were purchased with the old instruments shipped to Detroit and improvements were made to the Conservatory building.

In 1915, the Philharmonic Society gave a performance of Handel's Messiah under Professor Cozine, then Directory of the Conservatory.

In 1916, the Conservatory of Music became the Department of Music, as part of a unified Albion College.

On October 31, 1930, the Beta Iota chapter of Phi Mu Alpha, the men's professional music fraternity was founded. Also in 1930, Lambda Mu was made the Iota Pi chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, the women's professional music fraternity. Currently, Phi Mu Alpha and Sigma Alpha Iota sponsor an American Composer's Concert each year, during which pieces by American composers are performed.

The A Capella Choir was organized by vocal directory, A. Van Deursen in 1935. Van Deursen was succeeded by Theodore Vosburgh in 1937.

Albion College became a member of the National Association of Schools in Music in 1940. The membership and accreditation of the Department demonstrated the quality of the Albion College music program.

During the 1950s, Dr. Conway Peters directed the band and orchestra. Dr. David Strickler was director of the College Choir. He is responsible for the Festival of Lessons and Carols tradition, which was inspired by a visit to Oxford University in London, England during a sabbatical. Strickler also founded the College Choral Society, which brought members of the Albion City community and College together. The Society rehearsed once a week during the College Choir's regular rehearsal hours and performed major works such as Handel's Messiah and Mendelssohn's oratorio, Elijah. The Choral Society has undergone demise in recent years. Rehearsals were moved to evenings and finally were no more, until the Fall of 2000, when it was revived by current choral director, Dr. Douglas Rose.

During the presidency of Dr. Lomas, a big football fan, the tradition of the British Eighth Marching Band was started for football seasons.

The Music Department has lost many faculty members over the past 2 years to retirement, and is currently attempting to rebuild under the guidance of Director, Maureen Balke, also a professor of voice. With the addition in the past 4 years of Dr. James Ball, Orchestra; Michelle Beaton, official piano accompanist; Dr. Andrew Bishop, jazz ensemble; Dr. David Curtin, piano; Dr. Kathryn Lindberg, band ensembles; and Dr. Douglas Rose, choir ensembles the Department is off to a fresh new start.

Past and Present Faculty Members
William Haverman - vocal and instrumental music
Julia Haverman - guitar
Carl B. Scheffler - director, piano, harmony, counterpoint
Ella Brockway - music history
Jennie Worthington - piano
Jennie Whitcomb - piano, organ
Mattie Reynolds - voice culture
Minnie Powers - piano
Cora Travis - piano, voice
Charles Adams - director
Albert Gale
Dr. Frank Wilbur Chace - director, choir
Professor Cozine-director
A. Van Deursen - vocal director
Theodore Vosburgh - vocal director
Dr. Conway Peters - band and orchestra director
Dr. David Strickler - choir and voice
Jacqueline Maag - voice and music history
Coral Mason - piano
Dr. Philip Mason - orchestra and violin
Dr. Thomas Doran - piano, music history and theory
Dr. Ralph Long - band
Melvin Larimer - music literature, choir, Briton Singers
Al Bolitho - organ
Louis U. Rowland
Dr. Anthony Taffs - piano
F. Dudleigh Vernor - organ
John Blakemore - orchestra
Narciso Solero - piano
Byron Knutson - piano
James Miley - jazz, music theory
Colin Jagger - orchestra, music theory, conducting, violin
Dr. Maureen Balke - director, voice
Dr. Douglas Rose - choir, Briton Singers
Dr. Kathryn Lindberg - band ensembles
Dr. James Ball - orchestra
Michelle Beaton - piano
Dr. Andrew Bishop - jazz ensembles
Dr. David Curtin - piano

Department Traditions
Briton Singers (started by Melvin Larimer)
British Eighth
Madrigal Singers (started by Melvin Larimer)
Concerto Concert
Faculty Recitals
Student/Department Recitals
Ensemble Tours

Music Fraternities
St. Cecelia Society
Lambda Mu
Phi Mu Alpha

Scope & Content

The Records of the Music Department cover the years 1865-1999. The collection is primarily comprised of programs and other forms of advertising for musical events on campus.

The Collection consists of 7 series:

Series I: Concert Programs

Series II: Historical Materials
Series III: Advertising
Series IV: Brochures
Series V: Miscellaneous
Series VI: Articles
Series VII: Photographs

Series Description
The Records of the Music Department consist of 7 series: Concert Programs, Historical Materials, Advertising, Brochures, Miscellaneous, Articles, and Photographs.

The Concert Programs series, folders 1-69, primarily consists of programs of various concerts held by the Department of Music from 1865-1998. Examples include student recitals, faculty and guest recitals, as well as band, choir and orchestra concerts. From the 1950s-1970s, folders 31, 32, 35, 36, 39 and 47, there are programs included from the premier performances of works by resident composers and professors, Dr. Anthony Taffs and Dr. David Strickler.

 

The second series, Historical Materials, folder 70, contains information about the early years of the Conservatory. It also includes programs from the Albion Music Festival held in the late 1890s.

 

The third series, Advertising, folder 71, contains various notices of concerts from 1956-1999.

 

The Brochures series, folder 72, includes informational publications about the Department of Music from the 1950s-1990s. Also contained in this series is information concerning the Mulligan Memorial Music Scholarship, a scholarship that is available to incoming music majors.

 

The Miscellaneous series, folders 73-76, contains various items. Folder 73 contains a booklet, listing Albion College as a member of the National Association of Schools of Music from January 1949. Folder 74 contains information and advertising about recruitment events, primarily Music Day 1970-1974. Folder 75 includes a list of student participation in various ensembles, 1949-1989. Folder 76 contains tickets from various events, 1865-1926. For example, there is a ticket for a 1912 performance of the Glee Club.

 

The sixth series, Articles, folders 77-79, contains articles about upcoming concerts and other information related to the Department of Music.

 

Photographs, the final series, folder 80, consists of 2 photographs. The first photograph is of the 1974 Choir, and the second is of the Orchestra performing their Concerto Concert in 1998.

Inventory