To accommodate the increasing enrollment (now at 569), the South Hall men’s dorm was converted into the Music Hall, complete with two classrooms, four studios, seven practice rooms, a department head office, and a listening room. Several foreign students also lived in the building.
Albert Sickner was chosen by the university’s board of directors to organize the music program at Friends. He created a curriculum that would provide students with the proficiencies needed to be competent music participants and performers. He was responsible for organizing the Friends University Chorus, the Women’s Glee Club and..Read More
Because of World War II, male students were forced to join the war effort, making the Singing Quakers a nearly an all-women ensemble for a number of years. While Finney remained the Music Department head, voice faculty member, Elsa Haury directed the women’s chorus. Haury kept the ensemble busy, performing..Read More
Cecil J. Riney was promoted to the head of the music department upon receiving his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Dr. Riney served as a guest conductor at Florida State University’s fourth annual High School Choral Festival, invited by two former students, Andre J. Thomas (’73) and Kevin Fenton (’84). Thomas presented Riney with “Walk the Streets of Gold,” a choral piece that Thomas wrote about Riney and the Singing..Read More
The Singing Quakers celebrated their 25th anniversary under the direction of Fred C. Mayer. One of the notable students in the 50-voice ensemble was that of Cecil J. Riney, who became the director of the Singing Quakers 10 years later.
Lucy Francisco became the head of the music department. She expanded the music program to attract the general student in addition to music degree-seeking students. Under Francisco, the University Chorus focused their performances on selections from oratorios, operas, and other works of classical merit. The Glee Clubs, contrastingly, performed show..Read More
At the end of WWII, enrollment increased from 192 to 410 making the Singing Quakers a large, mixed ensemble, once again. John Duro, who replaced Haury and Finney, led the ensemble for just a year.
On May 31, the university broke ground on the new fine arts facility, following the Baccalaureate Service.
Dr. Cecil Riney announced his retirement after 45 years as a faculty member at Friends University. Dr. Mark Bartel assumed the role of director of the Singing Quakers. He held degrees from Canadian Mennonite University and the University of Winnipeg, a Master of Music and Master of Sacred Music from..Read More