A century of music

Music has been interwoven into the identity of Iowa Wesleyan University for 100 years as the Department of Music has educated students who have gone on to use the ideals ingrained in them at IW to lead successful careers in music and teach other future musicians the trade.

This homecoming weekend, IW kicks off their yearlong celebration of 100 years of music with a first-ever choir reunion in Old Main on Saturday, Oct. 6, in the third-floor rehearsal room from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Everyone is invited, from current students to alumni to friends of the university, for an hour of creating music together.

'Making music is something that is a lifelong endeavor,” said Blair Buffington, IW Director of Choral Activities. 'That culture of music has been crucial in making Iowa Wesleyan a liberal arts university. Music is such a universal language incorporating language, poetry, history and math. All these elements come together to make music.”

Digging into history, there is evidence of choirs, bands, glee clubs and orchestras thriving at IW since it was founded in 1842 adjacent to Alexander Rommell's Conservatory of Music. Students who attended IW often dual-enrolled at the conservatory and vice versa. It was when the conservatory closed their doors that IW incorporated it as the Department of Music.

Music enriches the cultural and student experience at IW, Professor of Music Jason Edwards said, who has watched students blossom not only as musicians but as people during their four years at the university. There are around 12 to 15 students annually enrolled in the music department.

'With close contact we have with our students since we are a small department, helps them build confidence and leadership skills,” Edwards said. 'They get involved in all different things - choir, band, ensembles and opportunities to take leadership roles.”

It isn't just students who major in music who find their way into choirs and bands. Students from every department on campus express their musical talent through IW's music programs. Without them and without the music department, Edwards muses that the campus would be a little bit boring, a little bit dryer without that rich culture of music.

Students from the Department of Music have gone on to leave legacies. Amanda Stevenson, founder of the Omaha Children's Choir on Omaha, Neb. is a 2006 IW graduate. Stevenson really took to the IW idea of service with her organization, which was founded on the premise of the positive difference music can make socially, emotionally and academically in the lives of young people.

Pati Pati, of American Somalia, is another IW graduate who is considered a national treasure in his country today because of his preservation of traditional Somalian music. A 1996 graduate, Pati Pati was even recognized by President George W. Bush in 2005 at the White House as teacher of the year.

'Diversity isn't recent,” said Joy Conwell with IW Historical Collections. 'We've been a diversified university for a long time, and it's neat to see our international students return to their home accomplished … (Pati Pati) is a beloved music instructor.”

IW can even lay claim to child prodigy Elizabeth Patterson Sawyers, who graduated from IW in 1888 as valedictorian in 1888 at 13-years-old and was dual-enrolled in the conservatory. Sawyers went on to have an extensive career in classical music, Conwell said. Later, Sawyers married Bernard Von Kleinschmidt, who became president of the University of Southern California and established the film school there.

In Kleinschmidt and Sawyers' crypt, the most recent person to be buried there was Michael Jackson. Judy Garland is also buried in the couple's crypt.

'Their relationship (to these celebrities) through music and film is quite an interesting one,” Conwell said.

'It's important for us to remember and honor those who have come ahead, honor the legacy of what we have as we look to the future,” Conwell added.

Today, IW is home to the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra, which provides students with opportunities not seen at other university's the size of IW.

Jeffrey Phillips, executive director of SEISO, said they try to include as many IW music students as possible in their performances from violinists to trumpet players. 'We try to foster those young musicians as much as possible,” he said.

Phillips said the students at IW are talented and dedicated to their craft, with many going on to be music educators and others continuing to perform with SEISO or other regional orchestras. The relationship between SEISO and IW is a 'symbiotic relationship,” Phillips said. It's a benefit to SEISO to have their offices located on the IW campus and to have the IW chapel auditorium available to them for performances.

Buffington believes music is what brings the larger southeastern Iowa community together. It's a unifying factor for people from each town, county, culture and social economic background.

Without the music program, Buffington believes there would be a gap in the university. Their ensembles and vocalists played a big role in the 175th celebration of the university's founding in 2017. IW students from the department often visit high school classrooms to show high school students that a future in music is attainable.

'That culture of music has been crucial to making Iowa Wesleyan a liberal arts university,” Buffington said. 'The strength of music here in rural southeastern Iowa is what it is because of Iowa Wesleyan and because of the focus and the commitment to music since its inception.”

A century of music will culminate in a reunion concert in the spring on Saturday, April 13, where alumni, current students and the choir will get together to celebrate.