A brief history of the
Sewanee Church Music Conference
“We are here making a beginning of what promises to be a very pleasant and profitable thing, and we ask you for your help and interest, as well as yourself to take part in it.” Writing these words in April 1951, Bishop Theodore N. Barth, bishop coadjutor of Tennessee, announced the creation of an annual summer conference of church music patterned after one held in Evergreen, Colorado. Because of the distance and difficulty in traveling there, it was felt that such a conference should be held in the Fourth Province of the country. On February 27, 1951, at Bishop Barth’s request, ten representatives of the thirteen dioceses in the Fourth (Sewanee) Province met at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. As Bishop Barth stated, this conference was not to be a school in organ playing, nor a general instruction in the art of choral singing, but focus on the relationship of music to the liturgy of the Episcopal Church. It was his hope “that many of the organists and choir directors in the average city, small town, and even country parish will be able to come to this, and that the congregations they serve will help to make it possible.”
First AdministratorsDr. Adolph Steuterman from Calvary Church, Memphis, was made Chairman of Arrangements. Thomas Alexander, St. Paul’s, Chattanooga, would be Bursar and Registrar, with Milton B. McGrew, Church of the Good Shepherd, Memphis, as Secretary. In 1953, McGrew was succeeded by Richard T. White, St. John’s Church, Memphis. F. Arthur Henkel, Maurice Pederson and Jack Edwin Rogers also participated.
Notes from the First ConferenceThis first conference drew fifty-four attendees (from eleven Dioceses) to the Dubose Conference Center in Monteagle, Tennessee. Rev. Massey H. Shepherd, Jr., Professor of Church History from the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, made the first of many appearances. Robert L. Hobbs, St. Luke’s, Louisville, Kentucky, Lyman P. Pryor, St. John’s Cathedral, Jacksonville, Florida and Robert L. Van Doren, Trinity Church, Columbia, South Carolina, comprised the musical faculty. The Rev. Cyril N. Sturrup, Rector of St. Paul’s, Winter Haven, Florida, served as Chaplain.
Regarding Massey Shepherd, Richard White (who served as Registrar for thirteen years) related: “He was probably the finest liturgist in the country. He could talk for fifty minutes (the length of the classes) on the Prayer Book, the psalms, the structure of the service, etc. with no notes and never searched for a word. He was even invited to the Vatican to participate in discussions on liturgy.” Highlights of the first conference included Sunday worship at St. Paul’s, Chattanooga, where Tom Alexander was Organist-Choirmaster. A picnic followed at Chickamauga Lake. Wednesday Choral Evensong was celebrated at All Saints Chapel on the Sewanee campus. Response was so enthusiastic that it was agreed to make the gathering an annual event. |
Tuition and OverviewThe fee of $50.00 covered tuition, room and board for the ten-day conference that was held July 17-25, 1951. Daily classes included topics such as “Liturgy and Church Music in their Historical Development”, sessions on Anglican and plainsong chants, choir techniques and the Hymnal 1940. Anthems and service music were studied and then performed within the liturgies during the conference, with the choir made up of the attendees. As stated in the brochure for this first conference, “Afternoons will be free for recreation and private consultation with the faculty and members of the provincial committee. Not the least important is the close companionship and discussion with many fellow musicians from all over the South. This is a rare and valuable experience, cementing life-long friendships. Not infrequently, much invaluable learning results from informal discussion at the dinner table or on a leisurely stroll along some mountain trail.” These very words could be penned today - 70 years later - about the spirit of the Sewanee Church Music Conference.
The Second ConferenceThe second conference grew to seventy-three attendees representing seventeen dioceses. Massey Shepherd and Robert Van Doren returned as faculty, joined by Ray Francis Brown from General Theological Seminary in New York; William Teague, St. Mark’s, Shreveport; Frank Slater, St. Andrew’s, Jackson, Mississippi. Bishop Frank McElwain, Director of the Dubose Center, was Chaplain. The conferees again served as the choir for the Sunday service at St. Paul’s, Chattanooga. Wednesday Evensong was “back on the mountain” at All Saints Chapel, with Bishop Barth preaching.
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1950s and '60s
By 1955, there were ninety attendees from seventeen dioceses in nine states. Anthems sung that year included Judge Eternal by Marchant; Richard de Castre’s Prayer by Terry; Save Us, O Lord by Bairstow; God Is Gone Up by Titcomb. Over the next three years, attendance fluctuated: 1956 – sixty-five; 1957 – sixty; 1958 – seventy-seven. The tuition had increased to $55.00 by the ninth gathering (1959) when eighty-eight persons from twenty-four states were treated to a study of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Haydn’s Creation, and Sowerby’s Forsaken of Man.
In a 1964 letter to Peter Fyfe, Christ Church, Nashville, Adolph Steuterman - still serving as Chair of Arrangements - informed him that funds to cover travel expenses for the Music Committee of the Diocese of Tennessee had been authorized. This committee, headed by Bishop Barth and chaired by Dr. Steuterman, led the conference planning in its early years. Possibly in partial recognition of his efforts on behalf of the conference, Steuterman was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of the South in 1958.
As Registrar, Richard White mailed the conference brochures, maintained a card file of those attending, with a large map showing the places from which attendees came. One of his more pleasant jobs was to ring the bell in Claiborne Hall every morning to wake the conferees - that is, when the bell rope hadn’t been tied up in the belfry, out of his reach! David Ramsey, then at Church of the Holy Communion, Memphis, succeeded White as Registrar in 1965. In 1970, Richard Sidey, St. John’s Cathedral, Knoxville, took over the important duties of Registrar - until an emergency appendectomy occurred a few days before the 1992 conference. Happily, he recovered, but this incident forced the small “Committee on Arrangements” to face the issue of the conference depending on a few devoted members.
In 1965, Gerre Hancock, from St. Thomas Church, New York, made the first of three appearances on the faculty (he returned in 2000 for the conference’s fiftieth anniversary).
By 1967, the leadership of the Conference began to rotate, with various individuals serving as Director. Foremost among them was Everett O’Neil, Church of the Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. Under the title of Manager, he was to serve the Conference for many years, continuing the good work of the founders. After his untimely death in 1996, a scholarship was named in his memory and was awarded to two first-time attendees each year. A few years later, David Ramsey’s name was sadly added to these scholarships.
In a 1964 letter to Peter Fyfe, Christ Church, Nashville, Adolph Steuterman - still serving as Chair of Arrangements - informed him that funds to cover travel expenses for the Music Committee of the Diocese of Tennessee had been authorized. This committee, headed by Bishop Barth and chaired by Dr. Steuterman, led the conference planning in its early years. Possibly in partial recognition of his efforts on behalf of the conference, Steuterman was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of the South in 1958.
As Registrar, Richard White mailed the conference brochures, maintained a card file of those attending, with a large map showing the places from which attendees came. One of his more pleasant jobs was to ring the bell in Claiborne Hall every morning to wake the conferees - that is, when the bell rope hadn’t been tied up in the belfry, out of his reach! David Ramsey, then at Church of the Holy Communion, Memphis, succeeded White as Registrar in 1965. In 1970, Richard Sidey, St. John’s Cathedral, Knoxville, took over the important duties of Registrar - until an emergency appendectomy occurred a few days before the 1992 conference. Happily, he recovered, but this incident forced the small “Committee on Arrangements” to face the issue of the conference depending on a few devoted members.
In 1965, Gerre Hancock, from St. Thomas Church, New York, made the first of three appearances on the faculty (he returned in 2000 for the conference’s fiftieth anniversary).
By 1967, the leadership of the Conference began to rotate, with various individuals serving as Director. Foremost among them was Everett O’Neil, Church of the Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. Under the title of Manager, he was to serve the Conference for many years, continuing the good work of the founders. After his untimely death in 1996, a scholarship was named in his memory and was awarded to two first-time attendees each year. A few years later, David Ramsey’s name was sadly added to these scholarships.
1970s and '80s
The twenty-fifth anniversary conference was directed by John L. Hooker, then at St. Paul’s, Chattanooga. This 1970 gathering was marked by an unusually festive schedule of events, including Choral services sung by the Choir of Christ Church, Nashville, the Colson Chorale, Advent Matins, Epiphany Evensong, organ recitals by Jack Ossewarde, Sam Batt Owens, and David Koehring. The fee for the week had risen to $165.00. The new Bishop’s Hall provided attendees with air-conditioned facilities and private baths for the first time.
In the brochure announcing the silver anniversary year, the first reference is seen of a Conference “Stunt-O-Rama” (now entitled “Frolic”), held on Saturday evening after the closing banquet. It is interesting to note that, in the same brochure, this directive regarding conferees’ mode of dress was deleted after many years: “Slacks and shorts are not acceptable wear for ladies at class sessions and services. Extreme modes of clothing are not desirable. A high standard of conduct is expected of all who attend the Conference.”
As successful as the conference was, ten days was thought too long for some to be absent from their professional duties. Others felt that the experience climaxed with the Eucharist on Sunday, and the remaining days were somewhat of a letdown. The 1970 conference shortened the schedule to seven days beginning on Monday evening, with a mid-week Evensong, culminating with Sunday Eucharist in All Saints Chapel. This continues today.
In the brochure announcing the silver anniversary year, the first reference is seen of a Conference “Stunt-O-Rama” (now entitled “Frolic”), held on Saturday evening after the closing banquet. It is interesting to note that, in the same brochure, this directive regarding conferees’ mode of dress was deleted after many years: “Slacks and shorts are not acceptable wear for ladies at class sessions and services. Extreme modes of clothing are not desirable. A high standard of conduct is expected of all who attend the Conference.”
As successful as the conference was, ten days was thought too long for some to be absent from their professional duties. Others felt that the experience climaxed with the Eucharist on Sunday, and the remaining days were somewhat of a letdown. The 1970 conference shortened the schedule to seven days beginning on Monday evening, with a mid-week Evensong, culminating with Sunday Eucharist in All Saints Chapel. This continues today.
1990s - present day
Sensing the need for a more formal structure of leadership for the growing gathering, former Director Keith Shafer, St. Paul’s, Augusta, encouraged the members of the Committee on Arrangements to consider incorporation. In 1993, the Committee on Arrangements became the Board of Directors of the Sewanee Church Music Conference (and dropping the word Province from its original title). The following year, the conference experienced its largest enrollment ever - 167 - straining the physical facilities of the Dubose Center.
In the summer of 2016, the SCMC moved to the beautiful campus of The University of the South in Sewanee, with an online "presence" in our Facebook groups and in this website, where digital materials and connections are available year-round.
Throughout its existence, the Conference has drawn its faculty and recitalists from among the leading lights of the musical and clerical world. Attendees have benefitted from the expertise of Mildred Andrews, Vernon de Tar, Marilyn Mason, Sam Batt Owens, James Litton, Paul Manz, Alec Wyton, Jack Ossewarde, Marion Hatchett, Eric Greenwood, Dan Matthews, Raymond Glover, George Faxon, Larry King, Marilyn Keiser, Bob Simpson, Peter Hallock, Bruce Neswick, Huw Lewis, Ben Hutto, Judson Child, Barbara Crafton, Erika Takacs, David Hurd, Barry Rose, Gerre and Judith Hancock, Donald Pearson, Janette Fischell, Malcolm Archer, Maxine Thevenot, Kevin Kwan, Peter Conte, Todd Wilson, Stephen Buzard, Jack Mitchener, among many others.
Often noted for its “family reunion" atmosphere, this one week in July is a high point for many church musicians who would gladly affirm Bishop Barth’s words: “This is a rare and valuable experience, cementing life-long friendships.”
We are grateful to Jane Scharding Smedley, Secretary of the Board (2015), who collected this seminal history.
In the summer of 2016, the SCMC moved to the beautiful campus of The University of the South in Sewanee, with an online "presence" in our Facebook groups and in this website, where digital materials and connections are available year-round.
Throughout its existence, the Conference has drawn its faculty and recitalists from among the leading lights of the musical and clerical world. Attendees have benefitted from the expertise of Mildred Andrews, Vernon de Tar, Marilyn Mason, Sam Batt Owens, James Litton, Paul Manz, Alec Wyton, Jack Ossewarde, Marion Hatchett, Eric Greenwood, Dan Matthews, Raymond Glover, George Faxon, Larry King, Marilyn Keiser, Bob Simpson, Peter Hallock, Bruce Neswick, Huw Lewis, Ben Hutto, Judson Child, Barbara Crafton, Erika Takacs, David Hurd, Barry Rose, Gerre and Judith Hancock, Donald Pearson, Janette Fischell, Malcolm Archer, Maxine Thevenot, Kevin Kwan, Peter Conte, Todd Wilson, Stephen Buzard, Jack Mitchener, among many others.
Often noted for its “family reunion" atmosphere, this one week in July is a high point for many church musicians who would gladly affirm Bishop Barth’s words: “This is a rare and valuable experience, cementing life-long friendships.”
We are grateful to Jane Scharding Smedley, Secretary of the Board (2015), who collected this seminal history.
Through the years...
We're looking for pictures from 1951 - early 2000s. Let us know if you have some - we'd love to share them here!
1991 (Bob Simpson, choral conductor on the left; Robbe Delcamp, far right.)
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Early 1990s - Anne Wilkinson in the middle.
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Late 1990s - Richard Moore in blue, Judy in front.
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Circa 1992 - Huw Lewis, Ron Martin, Nancy Whitmer...
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