History
History of The Music Club of Greenville
In 1906, Theodore Roosevelt had just been elected to the presidency of the USA. Greenville, a community of 10,000 citizens and five cars, was booming from the recent wealth of the new textile industry. Elaborate houses were being built, the Grand Opera House had just been erected and Greenville Female College (later to become a part of Furman University) had a splendid music department. Furman University, Greenville Female College and North Greenville Junior College were all educating young students in the upstate.
In 1900, a Grand Opera House had been built to accommodate both local and traveling performing groups. Noted theatrical and musical companies, traveling by rail from New York to Atlanta, often stopped off for engagements in Greenville. These businesses were thriving or either just starting up: The Greenville News, Southern Bell, Coca Cola Bottling, Mackey Mortuary, the YMCA, Wyche, Burgess, Freeman and ParhamAttorneys at Law, Haynsworth-Attorneys at Law, Carolina Supply Co., J.E. Sirrine Co., Liberty Life, and Goldsmith Real Estate. Churches downtown included: First Baptist, Buncombe Street Methodist, Christ Church Episcopal, First Presbyterian, St. Andrews Episcopal, St. Mary’s Catholic, John Wesley United Methodist, Springfield Baptist, and Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal.
With all of the industrial growth, there was the desire for additional opportunities for cultural growth. One of the oldest local groups still functioning in Greenville today is The Music Club of Greenville. The Club’s beginnings were in the home of Mrs. George W. Ebaugh on Pinckney St. in the late summer of 1906. The four founders of the Club, were as follows:
1. Mrs. George Ebaugh, (Caroline Smith) piano
2. Mrs. O. B. Hartzog (Rozelle Waddill) piano and organ
3. Mrs. W. P. Conyers (Marie Crosswell Gower) vocal
4. Mrs. Robert I. Woodside (Lula Baynard) piano and harp
These four ladies of extensive musical training had come to the home of Mrs. Ebaugh in their carriages, since cars were just arriving in Greenville.
The following November 19, 1906 the first program and organizational meeting of The Music Club of Greenville was held and Mrs. Conyers was elected the first president (1906-07, 1911-15). The program was a study of Beethoven. Meetings of the Club were always held in the president’s home. From the beginning of the Club it was understood that each member must study, practice and then perform for each other, and thus enjoy progress. No Refreshments! The better to digest spiritual food. No money matters to speak of! No friction in argument at program meetings. Their intent was to make a musical contribution to the city’s culture and education. These exceptionally talented women gave generously of their talent to the town in homes, in churches, and other occasions just as the membership does today.
The aim of this Club from the beginning was:
“To broaden the culture of its members, to encourage thorough appreciation and understanding of music and to stimulate musical interest in Greenville.”
The years have proven the sincerity of the founder’s aims and plans. The Club has promoted many musical activities and contributed to and encouraged young artists. It joined the National Federation of Music Clubs in June 1920.
Mrs. Woodside was also a charter member of the Woman’s Music Club of Spartanburg and was instrumental along with Mrs. Cora Cox Lucas in the organization of the South Carolina Federation of Music Clubs in 1920. She served as president of the Greenville club 1907-1908 and 1915-1917 and then served the National Federation of Music Clubs for eight years as a S.C. representative as well as SCFMC president 1923-26. The Music Club of Greenville was the fourth music club in the state to be formed due to the efforts of Mrs. Woodside and other dedicated members.
Mrs. Ebaugh, president 1911-15, was the founder and first state chairman of junior music clubs in the state (1922). The Club sponsored junior clubs named after Mrs. Ebaugh, Mrs. Woodside and Mrs. Conyers.
Several historical highlights stand out as the Club moved along in its forward path: during the 1921-22 club year, a club choral group was organized under the direction of Professor J. Oscar Miller, head of the Voice Department of Greenville Woman’s College; the first radio program was broadcast from Greenville over a temporary station (WHBL) on Feb. 1, 1924; the club furnished a musical program for the formal opening of the Greenville Public Library; in 1932, the annual Community Concert Series was started through the untiring efforts of Mrs. John Bateman, former club president (1929-31) and former SCFMC president (1932); Menotti’s opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors” presented in 1976 and 1978 and two musical garden tours were enjoyed by the community in the 1980s.
All of us know that wars always have an impact on the world in strange and different ways. This is true even with the music club. In the historical notes for the silver anniversary written by former president, Mrs. W. Lindsay Smith in 1931, she relates the impact World War I had on music for programming. It seems the club had chosen the course of study to be “The New French School of Music”. Mrs. Smith says, “But alas, by the time the fall and winter came and the members were ready to order from G. Schirmer, learn and produce all this “new foreign stuff”, publications from France were not to be had! Paris was much more concerned with guarding her cathedrals from bombs and her city from Big Berthas, in sending food to her army at the front and in cheering the Americans, than in publishing and exporting sheet music, so that nearly every number written later than Chaminade and Debussy had to be left out and substitutions began!”
In the Spring of 1937 Club members, along with other music lovers in the city, came together to form a Bach Choir under the direction of Dr. H. Merrills Lewis, professor of organ and theory at Furman University. May 5, 1938 marked the first concert. Two former presidents of the Club – Mrs. David Tillinghast and Mrs. J. Riffe Simmons - served on the board for the Bach Choir. An orchestra assembled by Miss Lennie Lusby assisted Dr. Lewis with the annual concerts of the Bach Choir for the eleven years that Lewis served as conductor. The choir gave thirty-one concerts and appeared on a coastto-coast radio broadcast from Greenville. After Lewis left Greenville in 1953, honorary club member, William H. Thomas, was appointed conductor of the Bach Choir.
In 1948, music club member, Miss Rita Baker, was hired to begin a strings program for fifth and sixth grades in the public schools. Fellow club member and a past president, Miss Rogene Boyles, was one of the first to be hired as the Elementary Music Supervisor in the public schools. When the schools were consolidated in 1952, Miss Boyles supervised 340 classrooms. Presently, Mr. Bradley Wingate, Honorary Member, is the Director of Visual and Performing Arts, Greenville County Schools.
Mrs. Woodside also was instrumental in supporting the beginnings of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. From 1912-1918 the Woman’s College had a college orchestra of students and townspeople. During World War I this group disbanded. In 1938, former member Miss Lennie Lusby, professor of strings at Greenville Woman’s College organized her college students, high school students and players from the community at large to form an orchestra. There were 53 players sponsored by a Music Forum. Mrs. Richard Watson, former club president served as the president of this Forum and Mrs. Woodside the vice-president. Mr. Guy Hutchins agreed to become director and the concert took place at Greenville Woman’s College. A former club president (1991-93), Betty Powe Christopher played violin in this first group. Thus began the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. After its initial performance on April 14, 1938, The Greenville News wrote: “The concert marked an important occasion for Greenville music lovers in that it was the first appearance of the first symphony orchestra ever assembled in Greenville.” Upon Mrs. Woodside’s death in 1962, the Greenville Symphony dedicated a concert to her memory - the only Club member to receive this distinction.
When Hutchins left town, the group was reduced to only a string orchestra. Again, Miss Lusby held the group together and another conductor was found. In 1956, Peter Rickett was invited to become resident conductor and Miss Lusby was the concert mistress. Later her former student, Mr. William H. Thomas, violinist, became concertmaster of the Symphony. In the 1978 closing of Miss Lusby’s estate, Mr. Thomas inherited her violin.
Richard Cass, pianist, Greenville native and Honorary Club Member, won the National Young Artists Award of the Federation of Music Clubs in 1953. Mr. Cass, Miss Carroll Glenn and Mrs. Mary Ann Bushing are the only South Carolinians to ever win this prestigious award from the NFMC.
In 1954, a chapter of the American Guild of Organists was formed. Former club president, Mrs. J. Riffe Simmons, was Dean of this original group. This Guild continues to be an integral part of the musical scene in Greenville today.
On March 8, 1979 a memorial concert was given at the Greenville Woman’s Club by harpist Corkey Christman, violinist Bill Thomas, and pianist Sybil Thomas. Mr. Christman had been greatly influenced by Mrs. Woodside while he was a student at Bob Jones University. After leaving Bob Jones she had encouraged him to study at Curtis Institute of Music under Salzedo. She made available the opportunity for Corkey to perform on the Browne and Buckwell harp (c.1849) which she owned. A quote from the New Yorker on December 5, 1931 indicated “a Browne and Buckwell harp had its heyday before the Civil War when great numbers of harps were sold to the daughters of the Southern plantation owners, who doted on harps playing”. Mrs. Woodside enjoyed playing this harp to the delight of those who listened. Her niece says, “We would patiently wait for Aunt Lula to play the beautiful harp”. Mrs. Woodside’s harp is now on display at the historic Kilgore-Lewis House in Greenville. While a piano student, Mrs. Thomas had been the recipient of a scholarship given by Mrs. Woodside.
The Music Club of Greenville is the fourth oldest music club in the South Carolina Federation. The club is affiliated with and has served the National Federation of Music Clubs (founded in 1898) and the S.C. Federation of Music Clubs, not only through full cooperation in its activities but by many of the members serving in official capacities. Club members Mrs. Robert I. Woodside (1923), Mrs. John Bateman (1934), Mrs. Jack C. Ward (1960), Mrs. J. Henry Tindal (1978), Mrs. Jon A Guest (2015), Mrs. Ralph Kellar (2017), and Mrs. Dan Williamson (2021) have served as Presidents of the SCFMC and Mrs. Ward served as President of the NFMC (1979-83). Presently, Club member Deborah T. Freeman serves as First Vice President of the NFMC. The first NFMC Past Presidents’ Assembly Chapter in SC (the eleventh in the nation) was organized by The Music Club of Greenville in 1938.
In addition to its musical and social interests, the Club has always participated in civic affairs, and the humanitarian work has closely paralleled the artistic. The Club filled a vital need in the community during the two World Wars and the Great Depression of 1929. The Red Cross, Hopewell Sanitarium, The County Home, Shriners’ Hospital, Camp Sevier and Camp Croft, etc. shared in its many programs and projects. Possibly one of the most worthwhile projects undertaken by the SC Federation was its War Service work under the chairmanship of former club president, Mrs. David Tillinghast, during World War II for which South Carolina was second in the nation. $14,000 was raised for shipment of musical instruments, chaplains’ kits, etc. to our men in the service both at home, on ships and overseas.
Members of The Music Club of Greenville support many musical organizations in the community by participation in the organizations, by donations to the organizations, by promoting American music, and by supporting education in the field of music. Annually scholarships are given to talented high school seniors who plan to major in music on the undergraduate level. Scholarship recipients have gone on to study at Eastman School of Music, University of South Carolina, Bob Jones University, Furman University, Shenandoah Conservatory, Curtis Institute of Music, Florida State University, North Carolina School for the Arts, University of Georgia, Northwestern State University of Louisiana and Newberry College to name a few. May of each year scholarship winners are featured in an Honors Concert.
It was with great pride and grateful hearts that the membership of The Music Club of Greenville celebrated its 100 year anniversary with friends of the community on November 13, 2006 at The Poinsett Club. To commemorate this happy occasion, the Club presented two tympani to the Fine Arts Center of Greenville County School District and also presented monies toward additional scholarships to high school seniors preparing for college studies in music.
From 2006-2011, The Music Club of Greenville awarded twenty-four community grants totaling $31,180 and $34,000 in college scholarships to high school seniors planning to pursue a music degree. Fundraisers of note have included: Broadway to La Scala, in 2008 featuring James Broussard, Tenor, Tina Thompson-Broussard, Soprano, Troy Curtis, Tenor and Wendy Curtis, Mezzo-Soprano accompanied by Nancy Smith, Piano. The Coming Home Concert Gala was presented by Karen Parks, Soprano, accompanied by Honorary Member, Michael Rice in 2010. The 2012 fundraising Gala, “Discovering Magic in Arts”, featured opera singer Liz Cass-mezzo soprano, the International Ballet and music education program participants. In 2017, the Pan Harmonia flute and bassoon chamber group were featured artists for a scholarship fundraiser.
From 2010-2020, The Grace Notes ensemble performed over 40 concerts at nursing homes and retirement communities; 95 Music Scholarships were awarded (totaling $80,000+); the PITCH program refurbished 700 instruments to place in school bands and orchestra programs; and Community Grants totaling more than $270,000 were shared with Greenville organizations to enhance opportunities for music outreach and community participation. In 2015, Greenville Women Giving awarded a $73,000 grant to The Music Club of Greenville for the Tanglewood Middle School Band to purchase instruments, music and performance equipment.
The Club celebrated its 110th Anniversary at Thornblade Country Club in December of 2016. The special program included the presentation “Our Great Beginnings” by SCFMC Historian and music club member, Beverly Henderson. The Grace Notes Chamber Music Ensemble provided musical selections.
The January 2020 meeting celebrated the 50th membership anniversary of 13 members of The Music Club of Greenville. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, face-to-face club meetings were suspended in March 2020 and resumed May 2021. During this regular meeting interruption, pertinent club and program information was communicated via email with links to concert performances and written reviews. Members of the Club have worked hard and devotedly at their careers or at their avocations to make music in the Greenville community, South Carolina and the nation and to lead young people. Scholarships have been endowed in memory of members Miss Lusby, Mrs. Woodside, Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Flow, Mrs. Christopher and Mrs. Henderson. Club member, Virginia Uldrick, served as principal of the first comprehensive fine arts high school in South Carolina – The Fine Arts Center of Greenville County Schools (implemented 1974) and she also was the first President of the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities which opened in 2000 at the campus beside the Falls Park in downtown Greenville.
The Music Club of Greenville currently has 75+ Active Members, 6 Inactive Members, 12 Honorary Members and 2 Members Emeritus. Additionally, 10 members are Rose Fay Thomas Fellows (the highest honor given to members of the National Federation of Music Clubs), 7 are Carolina Jessamine Fellows (the highest honor bestowed by the SC Federation of Music Clubs) and 11 are NFMC Life Members.
ROSE FAYE THOMAS FELLOWS
Pat Howle (Mrs. M.G.)
Beth Lee
Mary Jo Tindal (Mrs. J. Henry)
Ann Guest (Mrs. Jon A.)
Deborah Freeman
Beverly Henderson (Mrs. J. Stephen)
Myra Phillips (Mrs. J. Arthur, Jr.)
Sara Kellar (Mrs. Ralph)
Dianne Williamson (Mrs. Dan F.)
Ruth Morrow (Mrs. Michael)
CAROLINA JESSAMINE FELLOWS
Ruth Morrow
Sara Kellar
Deborah Freeman
Pat Howle
Ann Guest
Beverly Henderson
Myra Phillips
The Club supports The National Federation of Music Clubs, as well as The South Carolina Federation of Music Clubs and its Scholarships. It continues to meet monthly and the Course of Study and plans for work as suggested by the National Federation of Music Clubs are followed by the membership. Recent programs of note have featured: The International Folk Dancers of Greenville, the Greenville Chamber Singers, the Tanglewood Middle School Band, the International Ballet, a program of spiritual and gospel music as well as Harlem Renaissance Poetry by Springfield Baptist Church and a tour of the Sigal Music Museum of Antique Instruments. The Club encourages original composition by members of the club and other outstanding students of music in the community. Thus, The Music Club of Greenville in the intervening years has kept to its original objective and aim and has broadened its scope as it gave music to the community and our nation.
The Collect of the National Federation of Music Clubs states “We praise and thank Thee, Father, for the gift of music. Through us, as channels of Thy grace, may this blessed legacy be shared with all mankind………to bring the spiritualizing force of music to the inner life of our nation.” We are reminded of this purpose as we make music. The sum of the work, projects, activities and accomplishments continues to reveal time and again, that expressed purpose: “to bring the spiritualizing force of music to the inner life of our nation.” May we, at the end of the day proclaim – we did our best.
EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE MUSIC CLUB OF GREENVILLE 2021-2022
President – Sara Kellar
First Vice-President Co-Chairs – Beverly Henderson and Pat Snider
Second Vice-President - Rosemary Cureton
Treasurer – Barbara Gulley
Scholarship Treasurer – Deborah Lusk
Recording Secretary – Nancy Smith
Corresponding Secretary – Janet Holliday
Historian – Pat Snider
Immediate Past President – Ellen Martin
Federation Secretary – Tamah Jones
By-laws/Parliamentarian – Judy Rozelle
Notes written by: Beverly Henderson, Past President, The Music Club of Greenville (1977-79) and Pat Snider, The Music Club of Greenville Historian.