Knox College - Gale Yearbook (Galesburg, IL)

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WILLIAM F. BENTLIEY. DIRECTOR OF THE CONSERVATORY

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NO N CONSERVATORY is sv OF MUSIC HE College organized its department of music as a Conservatory in 1883, and in 1885 Mr. William F. Bentley, who is still its Director. assumed its control. From a school of two teachers and one hundred and thirty-one pupils, in 1885, it has grown to its present high standing and enlarged at tendance, with nine teachers and three hundred and sixty-two pupils. The close association of the Conservatory with the College is of great ad- vantage to puirls in music, as they may at the same time pursue studies in the College, and may have the benefit of the mental stimulus afforded by the College life. The fact that Mr. Bentley, with a member of the Conservatory faculty as organist, conducts the music for the chapel exercises every morning, and the part taken by the pupils of the Conservatory and by members of its faculty in College entertainments, serve to show that the Conservatory is an important department of the College. When it comes to the matter of musical education in its length and breadth, the music school performs a function analogous to that of the College,-it has its specialized and mutually strengthening faculty, its classes, its orchestras. choruses, and recital courses, and the stimulating atmosphere which is produced by the act- ivity of many minds working by diverse means to a common end. No single teach- er can ever supply all that is needed for a broad musical education. The superior benefits of an organized institution apply not only to those who enter to make music a profession, but equally to those who wish to make music only a factor in their scheme of life work. Even if one does not go far into musical study, it is better that he should touch the art upon as many sides as possible, make the most of the time he is willing to spend, put himself under the infiuences that will most enlarge his musical sense. and concentrate and multiply the agencies by which musical knowledge and proficiency are quickened. A part of this broad musical knowledge is acquired in the public recitals, which are given every week by pupils. Pupils also have the benefit of the gradu- ating recitals given by the seniors. The recitals and concerts given by members of the faculty are of the highest order, and give to the students and friends of the school an idea of artistic work which they would otherwise get only from visiting artists. In addition to these advantages, the Conservatory management offers each year an Artists' Course, bringing here artists whose work is usually heard only in the large cities. With a larger number of students this year than ever before, with a faculty of skillful instructors who are themselves constantly studying, with a Director whose energy and enthusiasm never fail, and with a community somewhat appre- ciative of its advantages, Knox Conservatory of Music promises to make its influ- ence felt for the best in musical knowledge.

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Frederick W. Mueller Frederick W. Muellerszratluatetl from the of Nlusic in 1891. Oberlin Conservatory . . coming at once to the Knox Conservatory. uittl 'i lc'1vc of ahsenec .md Later he sec f . . went to Germany, where he graduated from R tl Conservatory in 1896. He is in- the oyx . structor in Piano Forte, History and Musical Analysis. Susan R. Clisbee 'Susan K. Clisbce graduated from New I, le Institute in 1885. and studied in the yn Oberlin'Conservatory, going.: later to Gei- many. studying: under Herr Moser, Berlin. She became instructor in Violin andV1oln in the Knox Conservatory in 1889. t John Winter Thompson .lohn Winter 'Pliompson graduated from l Oberlin Conservatory in 1890 and from t IC - . the Royal Conservatory of Music, Leipzig, ' 1894 He became instructor in Pipe Or- in - gan, Piano Forte and Theory in the Knox Conservatory in 1890. Bessie Cary Bessie Cary received special instruction In 1893 she from Madame Hall of Boston. b-'amc Director of the Vocal Music De 1.1. partment of the Montpelier Seminary, Bos ton, and in 1895 came to Knox as instructox in Voice Culture and Solo Singing.