Florida State University Of Music

The Florida State University of Music was founded in 1942 as the School of Music. The first Director of the School was Dr. Herbert John Clifford, who had been an organist, music critic and music teacher in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Clifford was succeeded in 1943 by a former student of his, Professor Russell Roberts (1908-1983). Professor Roberts served as the Dean of the College until 1964. In 1964, Dr. George A. Kehler was appointed Dean and a few years later assumed the title of Provost. In 1968, Dean Kehler resigned to accept a position at

The University of Maryland at College Park and Dr. Roberta Greenlahr succeeded him as Acting Dean; Drs John Wummer (Woodwinds), Charles Burchfield (Symphony Orchestra) and Robert Grier (Strings) collaborated to head the School as Associate Deans designately responsible for academic affairs administration performance studies respectively; this arrangement ended with Dr Burchfield’s departure in 1976 to accept a position at American University in Washington DC..

Florida State University Of Music

1 The Florida State University of Music was founded in 1942 as the School of Music.

The Florida State University of Music was founded in 1942 as the School of Music. The school was originally named after its founder, Dr. Herbert John Clifford, who served as its first director.

Dr. Clifford was succeeded by Professor Russell Roberts and in 1947 it became known as the College of Fine Arts and Sciences (CFAS).

In 1963 CFAS became part of FSU’s College of Arts and Sciences with degrees being offered in music theory and composition/analysis; conducting; piano pedagogy/performance; voice performance; choral conducting/rehearsal technique; music history/technology studies; orchestral instrumentation & literature studies; guitar performance studies; organ performance studies and wind band conducting techniques

2 The first Director of the School was Dr. Herbert John Clifford, who had been an organist, music critic and music teacher in Baltimore, MD.

Dr. Herbert John Clifford was a music teacher, organist and music critic. For example, he was the director of a school of music at the University of Maryland from 1882 to 1887. He also worked at a number of other institutions in Baltimore where he taught piano and voice.

3 Dr. Clifford was succeeded in 1943 by a former student of his, Professor Russell Roberts (1908-1983).

In 1943, Dr. Clifford was succeeded by a former student of his, Professor Russell Roberts (1908-1983).

Russell Roberts was a music educator who taught at the University of Louisville from 1933 to 1942, when he left that institution to join FSU as head of its Department of Music. He served as Dean from 1947 until 1965 and later returned to FSU as Director on Special Projects for Research in Music with the Center for Creative Retirement where he served from 1973 until 1983.

4 Professor Roberts served as the Dean of the College until 1964.

Professor Roberts served as the Dean of the College until 1964. He was a former student of Herbert John Clifford, a music critic and teacher at Johns Hopkins University. His daughter, actress Katharine Cornell (1901-1974), became one of the most famous actresses in America in her time.

Professor Roberts was born on January 26th 1856 in Baltimore, Maryland. He studied violin with two private teachers before enrolling at The Peabody Institute where he studied piano with Louis Gottschalk and harmony with Julius Weissenborn. He continued his studies at Leipzig Conservatory where he took lessons from Robert Volkmann and Hans Sitt; however, he did not receive any degrees from either institution because they did not offer degrees to Americans or foreigners at that time.[9]

5 In 1964, Dr. George A. Kehler was appointed Dean and a few years later assumed the title of Provost.

In 1964, Dr. George A. Kehler was appointed Dean and a few years later assumed the title of Provost. Dr. Kehler was Dean until 1968 when he resigned to accept a position at the University of Maryland at College Park.

Dr. William D. Smith was named his successor and served as Acting Provost until 1970 when he resigned to return to teaching full time in musicology at FSU’s Department of Music Education (now known as the School of Music). Dr. Richard Eiseman was appointed Acting Provost until 1971 when he became Dean of FSU’s College of Music (previously known as “College of Fine Arts”).

6 In 1968, Dean Kehler resigned to accept a position at the University of Maryland at College Park and Dr. Roberta Greenlahr succeeded him as Acting Dean.

In 1968, Dean Kehler resigned to accept a position at the University of Maryland at College Park and Dr. Roberta Greenlahr succeeded him as Acting Dean. She was the first female Dean of Fine Arts at FSU. Dr. Greenlahr was also an accomplished violinist and was known for her teaching ability in both academics and music performance. She served as Acting Dean until 1970 when she returned to teaching full time in the School of Music until 1981 when she retired from FSU to focus on her performing career as a soloist with major orchestras around the world including those in New York City, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and San Francisco among others.”

7 In 1970, Dr. William A. Sheppard became Dean of the School of Music and served until 1973 when he retired from FSU service and accepted a position at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C..

In 1970, Dr. William A. Sheppard became Dean of the School of Music and served until 1973 when he retired from FSU service and accepted a position at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.. He came to Florida State after serving as professor of music at The Catholic University for ten years. Prior to that appointment, he was professor at Peabody Conservatory and conductor of their orchestra program for three years.

Dr. Sheppard received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Ohio State University in 1942 where he earned highest honors in his class and won the prestigious Dorothy Martin Award given by the university to its outstanding graduating seniors who show promise as teachers or performers (he studied piano with Frank Huntington). He studied composition privately with Paul Hindemith while completing his Master’s Degree at Harvard University (1947) where he also completed doctoral studies under Walter Piston while earning a Fulbright Fellowship which allowed him research time abroad studying organ works by Bach in Germany .

8 From 1973-1976, Drs. John Wummer (Woodwinds), Charles Burchfield (Symphony Orchestra) and Robert Grier (Strings) collaborated to head the School as Associate Deans designately responsible for academic affairs, administration and performance studies respectively; this arrangement ended with Dr. Burchfield’s departure in 1976 to accept a position at American University in Washington, DC..

• The first Dean of the School of Music was Dr. Charles Burchfield (Symphony Orchestra).
• The first Associate Deans of the School of Music were Drs. John Wummer (Woodwinds), Charles Burchfield (Symphony Orchestra) and Robert Grier (Strings) who collaborated to head the School as Associate Deans designately responsible for academic affairs, administration and performance studies respectively; this arrangement ended with Dr. Burchfield’s departure in 1976 to accept a position at American University in Washington, DC..

Closing

The Florida State University of Music has a rich history, with many notable alumni who have moved on to perform or teach at other institutions. It is a place where students can go to study music and grow their talents.