In 1994, the Singing Quakers celebrated their seventieth anniversary. To celebrate, Dr. Riney invited vocal alumni to perform the opening song, “It’s a Grand Night for Singing,” at a final performance of Symphony of Spring.

The ensemble had the opportunity to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop five times under Dr. Bartel’s leadership (2009, 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2019).

Roy Campbell, head of the Friends University Music Department, coined the name Singing Quakers for the combined men’s and women’s glee clubs. Before the Christmas holidays the two clubs gave an outdoor pageant. During Easter vacation they made a short tour to nearby towns and their final spring performance was..Read More

In April 2022, Dr. Carey announced phase two of the RISE Up Capital Campaign: Our Next Act. This phase would seek to renovate and expand the Riney Fine Arts Center, starting off the $7 Million project with a $2 Million donation toward a new chapel.

Irwin’s era was known as the “opera years.” After the success of The Gondoliers, a production complete with sets and costumes designed by professionals from the community, multiple operas were programmed year after year.

The Singing Quakers, in a sponsored event by the Wichita Chamber of Commerce and the Wichita Eagle, performed a newly composed work by Meredith Wilson (of The Music Man fame) and Frank Allen Hubbell: The Kansas Story. The work shared the history of Kansas and the musical composition mimicked classic..Read More

Carl and Dixie Sebits gave the university $3 million to expand the science, jazz and ballet programs. A one-story addition to the north and west of William Penn Science building added 12,000 square feet for laboratories, classrooms, offices, storage areas and a workroom. A one-story addition to the east side..Read More

The Singing Quakers toured Canada, singing in Dr. Bartel’s home church, just a few miles shy of Niagara Falls. The ensemble also performed at the US Consulate Office.