Westminster Choir College
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Westminster Choir College (WCC) is a historic
The Choir College was previously an independent school, located first in Dayton, Ohio (1926–1929), then Ithaca, New York (1929–1932), and for most of its history in Princeton, New Jersey (1932–2020). It merged with Rider University in 1992, continuing to occupy the historic campus in Downtown Princeton. Rider University controversially attempted to monetize and sell the school in 2019, an issue under ongoing litigation by numerous plaintiffs. After a failed sale to Kaiwen Education Technology (formerly Jiansu Zhongtai Steel Structure Company), a for-profit enterprise owned solely by the Chinese government, Rider abandoned the Princeton campus and moved Westminster's programs to the University's main campus in Lawrenceville.
History
1920–1932: Presbyterian beginnings to the creation of a college
In 1920
In 1922, the choir, then known as the Dayton Westminster Choir, began touring the United States annually, singing in
In 1928, the Choir and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski made the nation's first coast-to-coast broadcast on Cincinnati radio station WLW. By a few years later, the Choir made a total of 60 half-hour broadcasts from NBC's New York facilities.
On March 9, 1929, the Choir performed at the White House for newly inaugurated President Herbert Hoover.[1] Years later, the Choir also sang for Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
The first European tour took place in 1929 and was sponsored by Dayton philanthropist Katharine Houk Talbott and endorsed by Walter Damrosch, conductor of the New York Symphony Orchestra. The tour included 26 concerts in major cities of Europe.
Originally a three-year program, the Choir School moved to
1932–1991: Independent music school in Princeton
In 1932, the choir school relocated to
There was a second European choir tour in 1934 lasting nine weeks and highlighted by a live radio broadcast from Russia to the United States. In the 14 years since its founding in 1920, the choir already had two European tours, which earned it international acclaim and a campus of its own. The State of New Jersey in 1939 granted the choir school accreditation and the name Westminster Choir College was adopted.
In years to come, under Williamson's leadership, the choir would begin having regular concerts with the
In 1957, under the auspices of the
Williamson retired as President of Westminster Choir College in 1958. Shortly after his death, in accordance with his request, his ashes were scattered on his beloved campus on July 3, 1964. This was said to have taken place during the performance of the
In 1976, the choir college celebrated its 50th anniversary, highlighted by a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Shaw, alumni soloists, and the Westminster Alumni Choir on the Princeton University campus. Despite a promising future at the 50th anniversary, Westminster soon began to see its prospects for continued existence threatened. Facilities on the campus fell into disrepair, and Erdman Hall was ultimately condemned as unfit for use. Recognizing that the college could not continue in this path, Westminster was faced with two options: either find a larger university to merge with, or close.
1991–2017: Merger with Rider University and maintenance of dual campuses
Several schools, including nearby Princeton University as well as
Despite the optimistic future in the 1990s, by the early 2000s Rider University determined Westminster Choir College either must create an even stronger fiscal future or face closure. Looking for a way to control costs and more effectively create synergies between the two campuses of Rider University (Westminster's and the main campus), in November 2007, Rider University President Mordechai Rozanski announced the creation of the Westminster College of the Arts. Westminster College of the Arts was envisioned to integrate Rider and Westminster more successfully, and create a new culture and environment of artistic excellence on both campuses. Westminster Choir College continued to educate Westminster College of the Arts students in the fields of piano, composition, voice, organ, choral conducting, sacred music, and music education. The newly formed School of Fine and Performing Arts served as the gateway to receiving a degree in musical theatre, arts administration, and music, as well as a non-professional degree (B.A. in Fine Arts) in music, dance, and theater.[5] The creation of Westminster College of the Arts sparked heated debate among administrators, students, alumni and faculty that highlighted the divide between Rider's Princeton and Lawrenceville campuses.[6]
Westminster formed the Princeton University Program with nearby Princeton University. By reciprocal arrangement, Westminster students, except freshmen, may petition to take courses at Princeton. Generally, no cost is involved beyond tuition charges at Westminster. Students are limited to one course per term, to fall or spring enrollment and to courses not offered by Westminster. The program is limited to 10 students per semester, selection and approval being made by academic deans at both institutions. In return, ten select students of Princeton University study and take courses at Westminster each semester.
In 2005, Westminster unveiled an ambitious master plan calling for upgrades including a new building, the first to be created on the campus under Rider University's stewardship.[7] The choir college also entered a cooperative agreement with the Princeton Regional Schools, allowing for up to 40 Westminster performances per year in their newly created Regional Performing Arts Center (located in Princeton High School across the street), alleviating Westminster's struggle from having no dedicated, large performance space on the campus.[8]
The lack of a large concert venue was solved in 2013 when the State of New Jersey allotted $4.6 million to Rider University to be spent on new academic facilities for Westminster's campus. Combined with donations from alumni and other supporters of the conservatory, the funds spent on this project far exceeded $5 million. Opened in 2014, the complex is named the Marion Buckelew Cullen Center in honor of the philanthropist who died in 2012 and made a $5 million bequest to Westminster Choir College. The new building contains a 3,000-square-foot performance and rehearsal hall named the Hillman Performance Hall, in recognition of the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, which provided a $3 million grant to support the project. In addition to the performance/rehearsal hall, the Cullen Center includes a large lobby, a green room, and three flexibly configured classrooms that accommodate a wide range of academic and choral uses. The Cullen Center also includes an integrated connection to The Playhouse that provides improved audience access and amenities. To maximize the opportunities the project offers for enhancing The Playhouse itself, the college secured $1.5 million to upgrade this building that has played such an important role in Westminster's history. Ground was broken for the project in the summer of 2013 and the Cullen Center was completed by spring 2015.[9] Currently, as a result of the college's move to Lawrenceville, the Cullen Center sits abandoned with no plans for future use.
2017–present: Move to Lawrenceville
On March 28, 2017, after months of speculation following an announcement by Rider that it was again considering moving the Westminster students to the Lawrenceville campus and selling the Princeton campus due to purported financial problems, it was decided by the Board of Trustees that Rider would, instead, attempt to sell WCC to a new affiliate partner. A timeline of 12 months was established with hopes that a buyer would be found in the upcoming year.
Fearing that Westminster could be made to shutter its doors and cease its mission, a large ensemble of students, alumni, faculty, community members, and others gathered at the Lawrenceville campus for a silent protest on the morning of the vote. They sang the school's "alma mater" – "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" by Peter Lutkin – numerous times, hoping to convince the trustees not to silence the college.
On February 26, 2018, Rider announced its intention to sell Westminster to Kaiwen Education Technology (formerly Jiansu Zhongtai Steel Structure Company), a for-profit enterprise owned solely by the Chinese government.
On July 1, 2019, it was announced that Beijing Kaiwen was withdrawing from the proposed purchase. This was followed by news that Rider would relocate Westminster's programs to the Lawrenceville campus in September 2020.[13] At Rider University's convocation exercises on August 29, 2019, Dell'Omo announced that the relocation of Westminster and the sale of a large portion of Westminster's Princeton campus would directly benefit Rider University's ongoing campus investments.[14]
Westminster Choir College officially relocated to Rider's Lawrenceville campus in fall 2020, operating under remote instruction because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the Westminster College of the Arts merged with the Rider University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to create the College of Arts and Sciences of which Westminster Choir College is a school. Enrollment has plummeted, and students have lodged numerous complaints as to the suitability of Rider's facilities.[15]
As of February 2023, the Princeton campus is still being used by Westminster Conservatory (the University's community music school), for outside rentals, and for a small number of Westminster Choir College rehearsals and performances. Rider University has also rented the parking lot to Princeton Council, garnering roughly $2000 per month.[16] The status of the campus continues to be uncertain as Rider University is being sued in two separate lawsuits involving alumni, faculty, students, and the Princeton Theological Seminary.[17][18]
Grammy Awards
- James Whitbourn: Annelies, 2014
- Westminster Williamson Voices,
- James Jordan, Ariana Zukerman, and The Lincoln Trio
- Naxos Records(Nominated)
- Dvořák: Requiem; Symphony No.9 From the New World, 2000
- The Westminster Symphonic Choir
- New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
- Delos Records
- Berlioz: Romeo & Juliet, 1986
- The Westminster Symphonic Choir
- Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra
- Angel/EMI (Nominated)
- Barber: Anthony & Cleopatra, 1983
- The Westminster Symphonic Choir
- C. Badea and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra
- New World Records
- Lord Nelson Mass, 1977
- The Westminster Symphonic Choir
- Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic
- Columbia (Nominated)
Symphonic performances
The Westminster Symphonic Choir has performed with many major orchestras and conductors including:
Notable people
Past and present faculty
- Robert L. Annis, Dean of Westminster Choir College of Rider University, 1992–2014
- Dalton Baldwin, Adjunct Professor Emeritus of Piano and Voice, since 1948
- Diane Meredith Belcher, Assistant Professor of Organ, 2003–2006
- Ken Cowan, Coordinator of Organ and Sacred Music, 2006–2012
- Faith Esham, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Voice since 2000
- Joseph Flummerfelt, distinguished Professor of Choral Conducting, 1971–2004. Deceased.
- Zehava Gal, Adjunct Associate Professor of Voice since 1994
- James Jordan, Professor of Choral Music and Senior Conductor since 1991
- Joan Lippincott, Organ Department, 1960–1994
- Alexander McCurdy, Organ Department, 1940–1965
- Alan Morrison, Associate Professor and Chair of the Organ Department
- Sharon Sweet, Associate Professor of Voice since 1999
- John Finley Williamson, Founder and influential choral conductor. Deceased.
- Marion Zarzeczna, Piano
Alumni
- E. Wayne Abercrombie, conductor and Professor Emeritus at University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Adele Addison, African American lyric soprano
- Norah Amsellem, operatic soprano and a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
- Amy Anderson, stand-up comedian, actor, and writer
- Jennifer Aylmer, operatic soprano noted for performances with the Metropolitan Opera
- Pamela Baird, former actress, best known for her role on Leave It to Beaver
- Jean Ashworth Bartle, Canadian choral conductor, Founder of the Toronto Children's Chorus
- Diane Curry, mezzo-soprano
- Scott Dettra, concert organ virtuoso, former organist of Washington National Cathedral
- Elsie Hillman, Republican philanthropist
- Helen Kemp, world-renowned children's choir clinician, Westminster Professor Emerita of Voice and Church Music.
- Jennifer Larmore, internationally renowned mezzo-soprano
- Joan Lippincott, concert organ virtuoso, former head of Westminster's Organ Department
- James Litton, American choral conductor, American Boychoir
- George Lynn, conductor, composer, organist, and music educator
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus
- Warren Martin, composer and conductor of classical music
- Dorothy Maynor (Rooks), concert soprano, music educator, founder of the Harlem School of the Arts
- Monét X Change (Kevin Bertin), drag artist and singer
- Chicago Lyric Opera
- Eric Nelson, Director of Choral Studies at Emory University
- French Canadian conductor, Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra
- Julia Perry, neoclassical composer and conductor
- Rosephanye Powell, singer, musicologist, and composer
- Anwar Robinson, finalist on American Idol
- Alfredo Silipigni, opera conductor, founder of the New Jersey State Opera
- Michael Sylvester, internationally acclaimed tenor
- Olav Anton Thommessen, Norwegian composer and professor of composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music
See also
References
- ^ Ruth Fesler Lipman papers, Hoover Presidential Library
- ^ Ginsburg, Elisabeth (1993-03-07). "Westminster Choir College - A Merger's New Challenges". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
- ^ Ginsburg, Elisabeth (1994-07-10). "Choir College May Get New Address". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
- ^ Kandell, Leslie (1996-04-21). "A Choir School Is Singing Its Ode to Joy Again". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
- ^ "School of Fine and Performing Arts". Rider University. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
- ^ Scanlon, Jess (2010-12-02). "All for One or One for All?: Cultural differences = divide between campuses". The Rider News. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ "Master Plan and New Academic Building". KSS Architects. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
- ^ "Westminster Celebrates Opening of Princeton High School Performing Arts Center". Rider University. 2006-10-12. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "New Building Construction at Westminster". Rider University. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
- ^ Shea, Kevin (March 4, 2018). "Chinese firm buying choir college also builds steel bridges, worrying faculty". NJ.com. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- ^ Einhorn, Bruce; Li, Hui (March 20, 2018). "Chinese Companies Are Buying Up Cash-Strapped U.S. Colleges". Bloomberg News.
- ^ Obernauer, Eric (March 15, 2019). "Wirths seeks to block Chinese purchase of N.J. music college". New Jersey Herald. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Seltzer, Rick (July 2, 2019). "Westminster Choir College sale scrapped, but Rider University returns to campus consolidation plans". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
- ^ Neukam, Stephen (September 4, 2019). "Rider looks to consolidate Westminster, faces new litigation". The Rider News. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
- ^ "Westminster Students Say Rider's Response to Petition Ignores Their Concerns | Town Topics". Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ Writer, LEA KAHN, Staff (2022-09-28). "Princeton Council renews parking lot agreement with Rider University". centraljersey.com. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Siock, Sarah (March 31, 2021). "Princeton campus remains unsold a year after two lawsuit dismissals". The Rider News. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ^ Kahn, Leah (July 12, 2023). "Battle of Westminster Choir College move continues". CentralNJ.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
- ^ "Westminster Symphonic Choir Performances".