George Washington University. Dept. of Music.

At George Washington University the B.A. degree in music provides a broad base for understanding the role of music, both as a individual art form and in its social context, and ensures that students have basic skills in music. The Department also offers a Minor in Music, minor in Jazz Studies. The department has a number of ensemble groups, the oldest of which are the Glee Club and Troubadours, which began in the early 1900s. Dr. Robert Howe "Doc" Harmon began directing the Men's Glee Club in the 1920s, then took the baton of the Women's Glee Club, and eventually created the combined men's and women's choruses over his forty year career. Throughout those years, his choral groups appeared at many major Washington events. Outside of Washington, they appeared at the "Singer Bowl" of the 1964 New York World's Fair, and many conventions and festivals throughout the eastern United States. Upon his retirement in 1964, the Department of Music was created, with George Steiner being its first chair. For more information on the history of the department, see the book titled Through The Years: The History Of The GWU Choral Program, written in 1998. Alumni formed the Harmon Choral Associates in 1986, under the direction of David Bates, class of 1946, and faculty member Cathy Pickar, which raised money to support the program. It continued until 2001. The earliest record of choral activity at the University is found in the 1898 yearbook, The Columbiad and concerns the Women's Glee Club. The Men's Glee Club appears in 1899, when C.W. Whitemore was its director. By 1914, the Women's Glee Club was presenting chapel exercises and singing at Pan Hellenic parties. The Men's Glee Club, under the tutelage of Professor Swett, presented concerts and organized a mandolin section. Troubadours, these days are a select group of vocalists chosen from the ranks of the University Singers. This first Troubadours organization ceased activities in the 1930s. In the summer of 1950, Dr. Harmon and Professor Vincent J. DeAngelis formed the Traveling Troubadours for the purpose of entertaining U.S. military personnel on our remote overseas bases. In 1960, they headlined for six weeks at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Dr. Harmon retired as director in 1964. That same year the University Music Department began under the leadership of George Steiner. After Dr. Harmon's retirement Jules Zabawa was appointed director. He served until 1969 when Dale W. Krider replaced him. In 1970 Stephen J. Prussing became director and served until 1978. In 1978, Professor Catherine J. Pickar became director of the Glee Club, which changed its name to the University Singers in 1981. The current Troubadours were reorganized under Director Catherine J. Pickar in 1981.This time, the group was based on the tradition of informal a cappella singing. Like the Traveling Troubadours of the 1950s the current Troubadours have served as ambassadors for the George Washington University by appearing at numerous events in the city of Washington and traveled under the auspices of the United States Information Service. On March 22, 1986, Glee Club, University Singers and Troubadours alumni gathered at The George Washington University to honor the memory of Dr. Robert Howe Harmon. The occasion was such a success that choral alumni organized the Harmon Choral Associates, launched the Harmon Fund and the Harmon Choral Prize Fund. A second Harmon Choral Reunion was held in 1990 and the third in 1994. N.B. This history note was written in 2005.

From the description of Music Department records, 1898-2004. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 501822745

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