History of the School of Music

MUSIC TEACHING AT SALEM 1802 - 1986

A Selective Outline by Margaret Vardell Sandresky A’38, C’42
Professor Emerita of Music

1802        The Salem Boarding School for Female Education was founded.
1804        The School opened. Sister Praezel became a piano teacher.
1806        Advertisements stated that reading, grammar, writing, arithmetic, history, geography, plain needlework and German were taught. “Music and fine needlework, including drawing are two extra branches. Entrance money is $5.00. Quarterly expense, $20.00. Instruction in music and fine needlework, $2.00 per quarter. The amount of yearly expenses, $170 or $180.”
1811        May 25, Saturday,  “During the week the Inspector of the Boarding School has been holding Examinations of the boarding and town pupils…At the beginning and close of each session there was singing and in the last session, sonatas and duets were played on the piano forte.”
1815        The first “Fortepiano exams” were played.
1824        Stringed instruments and a grand piano were purchased.
1829        July 4th: Haydn’s Creation was performed by musicians of the town.
1834        Sister Antoinette Bagge became a music teacher and an organist.
1849        The evening service was omitted because of the practice of music in the Girl’s Boarding School.
1854        Main Hall was built in the place of the original Gemein Haus
1823-1901    Edward Leinbach, musician, saw the School develop and was its principal music teacher from 1854 to 1877.
1866        The Board School was incorporated and named Salem Female Academy
1877        The Music Department was formally established under President Zorn. Friedrich Agthe was Professor of Music. The first catalogue was printed.
1879        Signor Savario D’Anna of Palermo, Italy became Professor of Music.
1883        A listing of requirements for music students i.e., Czerny, Opus 299 for pianists.
1887-1891    Susanna Mathewson, instructor in vocal music. Markgraf, Royal Conservatory of Music, Berlin.
1890        President Clewell awarded the first A.B. degrees to seven graduates.
1891-93        Antoinette Tracy, Voice.
1893-1896    Charles Sanford Skilton, F.A.G.O., Yale University, Berlin Hochschule.
1896-1928    Professor Harrah Andrew Shirley, New England Conservatory, became Dean of the School of Music. Pupil of Edward MacDowell.
1902        Memorial Hall was built, housing a three manual Hook and Hastings organ, with music studios and practice rooms above. Was named in celebration of the centenary of the Girls’ Boarding School.
1923-1951    Charles G. Vardell, Jr., A.B. Princeton University, Institute of Musical Art, New
York, Artists and Teachers Diploma, A.A.G.O. Head of piano department. At the death of Dean Shirley, he became Dean of the School of Music. PhD University of Rochester Eastman School of Music 1941.
1933        School of Music became a member of the National Association of Schools of Music.
1952-1986    Clemens Sandresky, A.B. Dartmouth College, M.A. Harvard University, became Dean of the School of Music.
1965        Fine Arts Center constructed under Dean Sandresky’s leadership. Flentrop and Holtkamp organs built.
1896-1986    Salem College had only three Deans of Music from 1896 to 1986, a remarkable record.

MUSIC TEACHING AT SALEM 1986 - 2009

A Selective Outline by Barbara Lister-Sink
Acting Director, School of Music, Artist-in-Residence

1986    Barbara Lister-Sink, AB Smith College; Soloist Diploma, Prix d’Excellence, Utrecht Conservatory; Associate Professor of Piano at Eastman School of Music; former student of Clemens Sandresky becomes first woman Dean.
1986    Friends of School of Music founded; “ON THE TOWN!” concert series launched; Performance Forum & Career Spectrum Series created
1986-92    Percy Grainger, Women’s Music, Moravian Chamber Music festivals. 1st Music Reunion. Anonymous donor gives new Steinway D concert grand piano for Hanes Auditorium.
1990    Last European organ tour give by John & Margaret Mueller.
1991    School of Music reaccredited by National Association of School of Music (NASM). Became a member in 1933. Education degree eliminated.
1992    Dean Lister-Sink resigns to become Artist-in-Residence. “ON THE TOWN!” concert series holds ast season, David Pegg becomes Interim Dean.
1993-94    Music alumna Amy Orser serves as Acting Director. Charles Vardell Centennial Celebration held.
1995    Professor of Piano Nancy Wurtele dies suddenly. Professors of Organ John & Margaret Mueller retire; Dr. Jack Mitchener, BM, UNC-SA, MM & DMS, Eastman School of Music, former student of John Mueller, appointed as organ professor; Dr. David Schildkret, BA Rutgers University, MM & DMA Indiana University, appointed as Director and professor of choral music and music history.
1995-99    Sandresky, Mueller and Jacobowsky scholarships established.
2000    Final Summer Organ Academy is held, marking 25 years of existence.
2000-01    Golden Age of Piano series held, featuring acclaimed guest virtuoso players; School of Music is reaccredited by NASM.
2002    Dr. Schildkret resigns as Dean to direct choral studies at Arizona State University, Dr. Joel Stegall serves as Interim Director
2003    Voice professor Joan Jacobowsky retires after 53 years of service; Italian opera soprano Barbara Fox DeMaio Caprilli, BM & MM Oklahoma City University, hired as professor of voice; Dr. Reeves Shulstad, BA Converse College, MA & PhD Florida State University appointed as Director and professor of music history. Dr. Thomas Swenson, BM Minnesota State University, MM, UNC-Greensboro, PhD piano pedagogy University of Oklahoma, hired as Director of Community Music School and professor of music. Music education degree reinstated. Dr. David Wells, DMA Louisiana State University hired to direct music education program and choirs.
2003-08    Fine Arts Center renovated, Shirley Recital Hall & Hanes Auditorium refurbished; Salem College Chamber Orchestra founded. Music students continue to expand training, including Arts Management and double-major degrees.
2008    Organ professor Dr. Jack Mitchener resigns to take position at Oberlin College & Conservatory, Dr. Erica Johnson DMA Eastman School of Music, serves as interim professor of organ.
2009    Dr. Shulstad resigns to teach music history at Appalachian State University; Barbara Lister-Sink appointed Acting Director; Dr. Timothy Olsen, BM Concordia College, MM organ & MA music heory pedagogy, DMA Eastman School of Music, appointed organ professor; Dr. David Schildkret returns as Visiting Scholar-in-Residence, director of choirs; 1st Professional Certificate Program in Injury-Preventive Keyboard Technique in the US, directed by Professor of Piano Barbara Lister-Sink; Dean Emeritus Clemens Sandresky dies, Dean of School of Music 1952-86. 2nd Music Reunion held.