Music at Catholic Women's colleges
  • JL
    Posts: 171
    Hello all,

    I'm currently attempting to amass a program's worth of choral music composed at or for American women's colleges, and thought this would be the place to ask about music for the many Catholic institutions for women (both those still women's institutions and those now co-ed.) Thus far I've encountered Sr. Mary Gisela, S.S.N.D. of Mount Mary, Sr. Mary Cherubim Schafer, O.S.F., and Sr. Theophane Hytrek, S.S.S.F. of Alverno, and Sr. Cecilia Clare, S.P. of (I assume) Saint Mary-of-The-Woods, and only in tantalizing glimpses of a few works. I know there's more out there, but much of it appears to be out of print and I suspect there's a good deal that doesn't appear in WorldCat. I will, of course, contact various music departments directly, but if anyone here can point me toward any sources (or, in the case of public-domain material, scans), I would be most grateful--if the program ever gets off the ground, you'll get a mention in the printed program.

    For reference, Wikipedia provides an extensive, if not comprehensive, list of current and former women's schools in the U.S. here:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_and_historical_women's_universities_and_colleges_in_the_United_States

    Bonus points if you attended one! :)
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,325
    For information about Sr. Theophane and her works, contact Sr. Mary Jane Wagner
  • JL
    Posts: 171
    Thanks, irishtenor! Is Sr. Mary Jane also at Alverno?
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,325
    She's a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis, but doesn't teach at Alverno any more, as far as I know. If you can't find contact information by Google-ing her, PM me and I'll point you in the right direction.
  • JennyJenny
    Posts: 147
    You could ask about Sister Mary Theresine Staab, S.S.N.D at Notre Dame of Maryland University (formerly the College of Notre Dame). She was the head of the music department there for more than 40 years. This is my alma mater but Sister was before my time!
  • advocatusadvocatus
    Posts: 85
    Here is the SSSF music ministry webpage, containing contact info for Sr. Mary Jane Wagner and a music history including Sr. Mary Cherubim and Sr. Theophane:

    http://www.sssf.org/SSSF/Our-Global-Impact/United-States/Music-and-Visual-Arts/Music-Ministry.htm

    Kevin Vogt
  • MBWMBW
    Posts: 175
    Composers Ricard Felciano, Kirke Mechem and Mac Crooks were on the faculty of San Francisco College for Women. SFCW became Lone Mountain College when it went co-ed and then closed and the beautiful campus was purchased by the University of San Francisco. I don't know that they wrote for college ensembles, but they certainly wrote choral music while teaching at SFCW/LM.
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