Nebraska Wesleyan University - Plainsman Yearbook (Lincoln, NE)

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THE MUSIC BOX Lois Connor plays presented by the Plainsman Tlayers and accompanied the operas and oratorios given by the chorus. In the accompaniments for the ora- torios, the orchestra was combined with the organ to provide a very beautiful background. Some of the better known works played by the orchestra were the Strauss Waltzes, Schubert ' s Un- finished Symphony, and a modern suit, Mississippi. The stringed ensemble is composed of fourteen violins, two cellos, one viola, and piano. This organization was started seven years ago by Mrs. Bennett, who is the present director. At that time it was c omposed of five members ; this year the membership has grown to eighteen. The orchestra ' s repertoire included music from the classics written for strings, such as Mozart ' s Symphony for Strings, Vivaldi ' s Concert Gros- so, and smaller works by famous composers, Bach. Handel, and Mos- kowski. The ensemble will be heard in their annual spring recital, followed by a dinner, a delightful tradition which was established last vear. From Left to Right: Ulmer, Cocklin, Kirkpatrick, Schultz, Hanson, Littrell, Bivans, Heckman, Sams, Beezley, Connor, R. Martin, Moorman, Swan, Worland, Mrs. Bennett, Director; Bessire, Powell, G. Martin, Harvey, Schock, Hosick, Slate, Giles, Hayes, Schick, Durham. Dillehay. Davis. A stringed quartet composed of Mrs. Bennett, first violin, Lois Con- nor, second violin, Miss Slonecker, viola, and June Meek, cello, is an- other product of the School of Music. They have played for numerous pro- grams, including the Chancellor ' s Re- ception and Educational Council Meetings. A violin trio composed of Lois Connor, Ruth Bryant, and Eva Sams with Neva Cocklin at the piano rep- resented Wesleyan extensively. One of the places of performance of par- Meet the gay-hearted, golden-voiced Gondoliers , who won your hearts and tickled your fancy by their acting, singing, and dancing, to say nothing of their colorful costuming. We vote this the best overa ever vroduced on Wesleyan stage. ticular interest was at the Eour-State Librarians ' Convention held at the Cornhusker Hotel. Geralyn Walrath Bennett, instructor in violin, is a graduate of the Uni- versity of Xebraska where she was a pupil of August Molzer. While at- tending university, Mrs. Bennett taught violin for two years at Cotner College and after graduation taught for a year in Kansas. She later studied at Bush Conservatory with Czerwonky and at Julliard School of Music under Persinger, the foremost instructor in violin today. Five y:ars ago complete charge of the violin department was given into her hands. As well as being an excellent violin- ist, Mrs. Bennett is an accomplished pianist. She is a member of two Fine Arts honorary societies, Delta Omicron, and Alpha Rho Tau. Last but not least is the subject of student recitals which are pre- sented once a month. They are given for the purpose of allowing pupils to perform before an audience. Con- structive criticisms are offered, and students profit artisticallv whether as a critic or performer. A consoling fact is the sympathetic ear with which one is heard, for sooner or later every- one has to play the roll of artist. With these various musical organi- zations, to say nothing of private voice and piano practice, is it any wonder that White Building is often referred to as Music Box? 31

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MELODIES FROM From Left to Right: Kirkpatrick, Schultz, Spooner, Bivans, Connor, Swan, Sams, Wor- land, Mrs. Bennett, Director; Moorman, Dillehay, Harvey, Hayes, Cocklin, Schick, Durham, Davis. Id are thi inns:, makers, II ' . iiii tit ' dreamers of dream-i Wandering by lorn- sea-breaker And sitting by desolate streams; World losers and world forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams. Yet we are the movers and shakers Of the world forever, it stems. The chorus is perhaps the most democratic group on the campus in that the only requisite for becoming a member is a desire to sing. There were one hundred and thirty mem- bers enroled, the largest chorus dur- ing the past eight years. Under Professor Oscar Bennett ' s direction, on December 6 and 7 the chorus produced The Gondoliers, a comic opera by Gilbert and Sulli- van, with the following cast : Duke of Plaza Toro Professor U nnett I.ttiz Mai rii i WoRi i Don Alhambra d I Bolt ro Ros i Druliner Mano I Iean Reed Guisippi i I R] 11 Boberg Antonio Waj II i I OSB KY Francesco — Fred Sw Duchess of Plaza Toro Hiii Minnick ilda I i i i Km Gianetta -Dorthcv Anderson ( SSa El SENA l- ' oi M Fiametta — Raedith Atwood Vittoria I oroi hi Daiu Upon invitation of the managemenl of KFOR. the entire opera was given over that station. .Mrs. Brandt, Director of Physical Education for Women, supervised the designing and making of costumes which became permanent property of the chorus. Heretofore, all costumes had been rented. A bouquet of or- chids to you, Mrs. Brandt. The chorus will be heard in Men- delssohn ' s oratorio Elijah next spring. The production of The Gondo- liers ' ' was truly an inspired piece of work on the part of Professor Ben- nett. While studying in New York A Prelude By this summer, he attended this oper- etta. Mr. Bennett ' s experiences have been many and varied. During the years 1916-1918, he attended Albion College in Michigan where he was enlisted in the army training corps. Later, he attended University of Ne- braska and took post-graduate work at Northwestern. Professor Sievers is away on a one year ' s leave of ab- sence; so in addition to his class work and lessons. Mr. Bennett is acting head of the Music depart- ment. Mr. Bennett was the recipient of a scholarship for the study of opera, and he has studied with some of the lead- ing voice instructors of the day. Be- sides being the possessor of a high degree of talent. Mr. Bennett has one of the most winning personalities on the campus. The orchestra has grown consider- ably in number and boasts of thirty members this year. Xew instruments have been added, which produce many and varied tonal effects. The addition of these new pieces made it possible for the orchestra to play a symphonv — the first time the Wes- leyan orchestra had attempted such a feat. The orchestra furnished music for Lane, Hayes, Mr. Bennett, Director; From, Gray- First Row: Arthur, Lyons, Tremain bill, Conlee, M. Young, Jones. Second Row: Hadsell, Vogt. Foland, Ireland, Schultz, Rosene, Douglass Barnhill Foord M. Wood, Sackett. Ml

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WE, THE FRESHMEN l; Mi i in Bow m n From north, east, smith, and west, out state and in state they came until they numbered two hundred. In this manner the Freshman class, one of the largest in the history of the school, flocked to Nebraska W ' esleyan cam- pus. The first few weeks of college life for the newcomers were one grand and glorious whirl of events, many at the expense of the upper classmen. That period was the first, last, and only time when the Frosh were supreme on the campus. At least we thought we were then. But our ideas are gradually being warped by a barrel stave! Registration was so boring: stand- ing around, being joustled in and out of line, locating various professors, and signing numerous papers about which nothing was known. One boy who was struggling to keep his place in line was heard to say: Mother told me there would be daze like this. However, there was one nice thing about it. While leisurely hurry- ing through all of the rig-a-ma-role. there were plenty of people ready and willing to make friends. Probably the only time in our col- lege careers when we got something for nothing was that first week. Candy, sodas, movies, parties, and dinners came at the expense of the upper classmen. Compliments, cor- dial greetings, favors, and even push- ers by the uppers , made us think that maybe we were as impressive as we had always thought we were. But alas! It was too - 1 to last. There is a trick to everything. It all ended, and we found it fo be only a blind. And now. my children, a word of warning — the Frosh are only proven- der for sororities and fraternities! Getting to each clas- was a miracle. Of course someone always pulled that old White-Building gag . It was a bit difficult to remember whether you were to be in Main 208 or T. C. 308. If you did happen to remember, you hadn ' t the slightest idea where to lo- cate it. That first week found many of the wearers of the brown wan- dering searchingly up and down the halls until some kind Soph, came to their aid. The Freshmen as a class made one contribution this year which was greater than any other group. With- out this all activity, beyond a doubt. would have ceased to function around here. In fact, everything would have gone haywire. That thing which is so vitally important is a good supply of girls. Over two-thirds of our class are of the fairer sex. With this large increase in the number of girls the male faction has one thing less to worry them. No more staying at home for those poor boys who hap- pened to be last on the telephone. Rather, it is now the unlucky girls who have to keep the home fires burning. Many of the boys are try- ing to solve the problem by alter- nating regularly, but some one is still left out. I guess the only solution is triple dates for all boys. If there are any sheiks on the campus, now is a good time to start a harem. Any- way, the Freshman boys are to be complimented both by the upper classmen and by the administration for attracting so many of the opposite sex to Nebraska Wesleyan. This has caused an increased enrolment : for proof, see the Registrar. Just because Freshmen are Fresh- men, you disbelievers of other classes are sometimes inclined to doubt our abilities. Of course, we can ' t point with pride at our high school record, cause then you say we ' re braggarts. Hut I think we ' re rlnitm well for our age. Look at Rabe — don ' t you think he made a swell rascally inn keeper in the Flamingo? And our boys Hrasch and Arthur and Axford and Van Ells show off W s in a mighty fine fash- ion. Oh. these football men! Then there- Oliver Shock, the nifty high stepping drum major. Benker seems to be headed toward oratory in a big 32 way . And you ' ve all heard the Ffodg- kin brothers on the air by now. Bill Nichols is a lot of fun. I hear his greatest ambition is to be foot- ball captain some day! I still con- tend that Mickey should be elected class comedian, and Neil chief story teller. At the Tau House ' Stretch ' is noted for his ' touching ' ways. Did you know that Red ' Lewis is quite a tap dancer? Our man Bimson slings a wicked brush and pen when he ' s in the notion. You should see some of his caricatures. Believe it or not, we ' ve a Ripley in our midst. From Roily Ripple to Jolly Ripple is but a step, you know. Toby Ran- dall and Don Otto are two of our shining examples of gentlemanly man- hood. Then, on the other hand, we have an idea of what certain other people will probably be doing in the. near future. I ' ll just bet that Arlene Lane will be one of our child prodigies in the music school and probobly will sway ' em from behind footlights. Mutchmore can sway em at pres- ent without aid of lights — or music ! Don ' t you think that Doc Conlee would make a good Don Juan for some fickle fern ? Beuna Leesley will more than likely join the debate squad, or the ex-temp speakers for a little practice. And Linch swears that next time the mustache won ' t look so much like Charlie Chaplin ' s. That Mosher gal from way back Fast has what it takes — and that isn ' t only an ' accent on youth ' . Neil Davis is slated to be one of the big time athletes. I hear he ' s been training by taking nice long walks. ' S funny, though, why he should have complained of a sore arm. Young Smithie followed her big brother ' s example and chose Alpha Gamma : this is most as bad as keeping up with the Joneses or keeping up with father — a new tradition, keeping up with brother . I hear that Allen Tilsley is especially adept at turning off alarms and turning over himself. Bet he ' ll grow up to invent non- breakable, non-disturable, air-tight, sound-proof ear muffs for the weary student. . . (Continued on page 48)