1935-1936 Dillard University Chorus

The inaugural choir directed by Professor Frederick Hall.

The inaugural choir directed by Professor Frederick Hall.

On the left is an article printed in the 1936 edition of the Dillard University newspaper, the Courtbouillon. On the right is an article from Louisiana Weekly, also published in 1936. The articles discuss the success of the choir's first season and annual tour.

SINGERS CLOSE FIRST SEASON The Dillard University Chorus reluctantly takes its last bow as the curtain of its 1935- 36 season is slowly closing. The thousands of people before whom the group has ap- peared have experessed their appreciation by enthusiastic applause. Requests continue to come from all over the country. The chorus is pleased, but it regrets that it must end the year here. This initial year has been a busy one and enjoyable. The formal concerts presented locally total seven. Minor appearances were innumerable. The climax came when the Chorus travelled to Columbus, Ohio, to ap- pear before the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Northward 'Heritage' was presented in Meridian, Mis- A sissippi, and in Birmingham, Alabama. formal concert was rendered in Louisville, Kentucky. The next stop was the campus of Wilber- force University, the home of the singers while in Ohio. By 8:00 o'clock on the night of May 13th the Columbus Auditorium, seating 5500, was filled to capacity, with extra seats in the aisles. Before this great audience the Dillard University Chorus un- der the direction of Professor Frederick Hall rendered 'Heritage'. Long applause which interrupted several scenes indicated that the audience thoroughly enjoyed it, and the comments afterwards were gratifying indeed. As an expression of thanks for a kind and hosiptable reception while on Wilber- force's campus, the Chorus sang several se- lections before the student body and faculty during chapel services on May 15. On Sun- day, May 17th, 'Heritage' was presented at Tennessee State College. The sixth con- cert was presented at the Memorial Audi- torium, Chattanooga, Tennessee, on the eve- ning of the 18th. The final rendition of 'Heritage' was given on May 19th at Ala- bama State Teachers' College, Montgomery, Alabama. Before making its last appearance for this season on the commencement program, the Music Club sponsored its first annual ban- quet at which felt lyres were given to the graduating members of the organization. Again the curtain will open-but this time it will be the season of 1936-37. Joseph Adkins.
Dillard Singers Return From Successful Tour, Louisiana Weekly, May 30, 1936. The Dillard University Chorus under the direction of Professor Frederick Hall, has just returned from its first annual tour. The feature presentation of the thirty-eight voice aggregation was the histori- cal pagent of the development of the spirituals from Africa to the present day in America, entitled Heritage. The Dillard Singers appeared before capacity houses in Meridian, Mississippi; Birmingham, and Montgomery, Alabama; Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky, and at Wilberforce Universtiy and the Methodist Episcopal Church Conference at Columbus, Ohio. At Columbus and Montgomery the over flowing crowd left standing room only. Those making the tour were: Misses Ontee Cain, Florice Brazley, Doris Daniels, Modilie Deloach, Elma Freeman, Eugenia Fletcher, Margaret Franklin, Oralee Hereford, Eugenia Jackson, Mable Ward, Helen Wilderson, Cora Mae Allen, Gladys Bellinger, Mary Evans, Mertie Farrar, Freda Johnson, Gladys Jones, Elaine Owens, Laura Burnbull, Hazel Ward, Messrs. James Brown, Ramsey Bridges, Lawrence Carter, Traverse Crawford, Fred Dillon, James Frankin, Arthur Maytag, Elmaurice Miller, Joseph Adkins, John Buggs, Kacillious Bridges, Harry Lewis, Otho Gaines, Lloyd Sandle and Oliver Conway.
WITH the opening of Dillard University in September came Frederick Hall, fresh from a two year period of study in Europe and a four months' stay in West Africa. Before going abroad, Mr. Hall had won an enviable reputation as a conductor, teacher, and composer. While abroad he added to his equipment in abundant measure. Residence work at the Royal College of Music and London University, research in school, church, and community music in England and Wales, attendance at the National Eisteddfod in Wales, the Salzburg Festival, and the Oberammergau Passion Play mark some of the high lights of his experience. Soon after Dillard opened,Mr. Hall expressed that the vocal talent among the students was above the average. His unusual ability to develop a group in a short while, supported by the responsiveness of the students have given to Dillard University a very fine choir. On several occasions, this choir has appeared before overflow audiences in New Orleans and ovations received have been great. PRESS NOTICES AND COMMENTS: 'A group that in a short while will rank with any choral organization in the country.' New Orleans Times-Picayune. 'Wonderful tonal effects, unusual balance and discipline. Some of the finest singing New Orleans has ever heard.' New Orleans Tribune. 'A very fine choir, showing excellent training. The voices blend beautifully, and they sing their own songs with sympathetic feeling, and understanding, and they do the classics with definite intelligence.' New Orleans Item. 'I have heard few choruses which seemed so perfectly drilled refering to orderliness, and discipline, as well as to the production of real music.' W. F. Amorine. 'The music rendered by your group for the Womens' Auxiliary of the National Surgical Congress was superb and was the highlight of our whole program.' Mrs. Inez B. Thomas. 'Many who were present at your program given for the Association of American Law Schools have expressed to me that they have never heard better singing anywhere.' Rufus C. Harris. 'The beautiful singing Tuesday night reflected honor upon the institution and upon the director. The voices were fine and well trained, and the demeanor of the students excellent.' Mrs. A. B. Dinwiddie. The Dillard University Choir has been chosen by the Board of Education of the Methodist Church to appear at General Conference in Columbus, Ohio, in May. The presentation by this group is to be one of the major programs of the Conference. This group will be available for engagements en route to Columbus. Program rendered will be of two kinds: (1) a group of choral, quartet, solo and glee club numbers, including Classics, Spirituals, and Folk Songs; (2) presentation of the Folk Pageant, 'Heritage.' HERITAGE: A musical spectacle based upon the Negro Spiritual from its African origin, reciting in drama, song and pantomine the high lights in the history of the Negro. The Pageant is written by Mr. Hall, the Spirituals are especially arranged by him and there are compositions written in the Negro idiom. There are seven scenes and every word and every tune is authentic, resulting from years of research by the author-composer.'Heritage' has been presented twice, once in Atlanta, Georgia, and once in Jackson, Miss. The program managers of the General Conference have chosen it because of its artistic and historical value. COMMENTS: 'More thrilling than a movie.' Atlanta World. 'Music and drama artistically combined and produced with excellence and sympathetic understanding.' Atlanta Constitution.'An opera of which the race should be proud and to which crowds will come whenever it is presented.' Wayne Sewell, Atlanta Georgian. 'A culmination of all the pathos, artistry and gaiety in the iife of the Negro, in which life music has held so prominent a part.' Jackson Daily News. 'Beautiful singing, artistic pantomine, excellent stage setting and lighting make 'Heritage' one of the finest folk spectacles on the stage today.' -Jackson Daily News.

A brochure from 1935 with glowing reviews of the first season of the choir

1937 Concert Chorus

THE DILLARD BULLETIN; The Dillard University Chorus; First row, seated, left to right: Traverse Crawford, Indianola, Miss.; George Franklin, Marcus Neustadter, Doris Daniels, New Orleans; Wille B. Frazier, Arkansas City; Margery Price. Mobile, Ala.; Margaret Franklin, Cora Mae Allen, Mabel Ward, Regina Fletcher, Hazel Ward, Gladys Bellanger, Edith Daniels, New Orleans; Melba Brazier, Donaldsonville, La.; Elmaurice Miller, Tulsa, Okla.; Sharkey Boyd, Vicksburg, Miss.; Xenophon Lang, New Orleans. Second Row, seated, left to right: Willie Ed- wards, Meridian, Miss.; Warren Singleton, Mobile, Ala.; Mack Williams, Houston, Texas; Ramsey Bridges, Foxworth, Miss.; Vera Green, Ethel Muse, New Orleans; Myrtle Lamotte, Baton Rouge; Mary Jones, Clara Bissant, New Orleans; Helen Wilkerson, Moreauville, La.; Mildred Dunnings, New Orleans; Ruth Currie, Brownsville, Tenn.; Elaine Owen, Georgetta Green, Oralee Hereford, New Orleans; Alice Mhoon, Meridian, Miss.: John Buggs, Bruswick, Ga.; Robert Brown, Knoxville, Tenn.; Edward Thomas, Henry Coleman, New Orleans. Third Row, standing, left to right: Fred Dillon, Magnolia, Miss.; Joseph Powe, Dallas, Texas; Florence Brazley, New Orleans; Floyd Sandle, Magnolia, Miss.; Irene Williams, Rosa Hunter, Maria Salmon, Elvira Freeman, Eva Sloan, New Orleans; Eva Crawford, Indianola, Miss.; Laura Turnbull, Gladys Jones, New Orleans; Madeline DeLoach, Philadelphia, Penna.; Mae Richardson, New Orleans; Inez Jenkins, Alexandria, La.; Lois Neale and Ruth Hayes, New Orleans. Fourth Row, standing, left to right: Arthur Mabry, Beaumont, Texas; William Gaston, Sheffield, Ala.; Theodore Hall, Elizabeth, La.; James Taylor, New Orleans; Kacellious Bridges, Natchez, Miss.; Otho Gaines, Tupelo, Miss.; Harry Lewis, New Orleans.
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