Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music - Opus Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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Dedicated to ADOLPH SCHELLSCHMIDT beloved friend and teacher

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ADA BICKING Director of the Conservatory G. V. Carrier business Manager Stanley N irris Registrar Waltct D. Hickmai. Public Relations Weymouth Fogleherg Field Representative

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Ad lp k (ykelUx kmldt 1869-1946 On March 18, 1946, Jordan lost a beloved friend — Adolph Schellschmidt. A native of Indianapolis, Mr. Schellschmidt was born into a home where music was an essential and welcome feature of daily life. He was one of seven children who, as they grew, were expected to become ever more expert participants in the family chamber music projects. It was, in short, for a talented boy an ideally musical climate. At first he played violin, but turned to cello after hearing Theodore Hahn in Cin- cinnati. Mr. Hahn had enchanted the boy with beauties the latter had not suspected in the larger instrument. After some preparation he studied cello with Mr. Hahn. At the same time he continued his versatile exploration of other instruments, notably the clarinet. At length he began to consider where to study in Europe. He decided on Germany and Cologne. It was a halcyon period in the life of the great Rhineland city. He studied with Heygesi, Wuellner and Hollaender, and frequently took part in concerts at the historic Guerzenich Saal where could be heard in those days such leading musicians as Humperdinck, Frederick Stock, and Willem Mengelberg. He played under Richard Strauss when that great composer conducted the first performance of his Death and Transfiguration. In 1893 Mr. Schellschmidt retvirned to Indianapolis and at once became a dynamic figure in the city ' s musical life. He joined the Schliewen String Quartet, and helf ed organize such groups as the Kammermusik Society. For m.any years he taught at DePauw University and later at Indiana University. He became a faculty member of the first Indianapolis Conservatory, of the Metropolitan Conservatory, and finally of the Arthur Jordan Conservatory when it was established. Hundreds of students, to whom he was affectionately known as Schelley, enjoyed the benefit not only of his valuable instruction but also of his genial personality in other ways. He was a fascinating raconteur of stories about music and travel. His reminiscences were salted with much humor. Adolph Schellschmidt will be sorely missed, but his memory remains ineffaceable in the minds of all his friends at Jordan. (5)