125 YEARS OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Music: A Part of Campus Life Since Day One “I think Dr. Krauskopf felt strongly that music brought people closer to the presence of God,” said Dr. Jack Schmidt, professor of music and chair of the Department of Liberal Arts. While the school never offered music degrees, music was a key part of campus life from the earliest days of the institution, then named the National Farm School. Evidence in early photos ranges from a 1917 shot of a school amateur jazz band, The Harmonious Hayseeders, to yearbook portraits of larger bands and dance ensembles. But by the time Dr. Schmidt, a teacher, researcher, conductor and administrator with a Ph.D. in Music from Northwestern University, joined DelVal in 1997, enthusiasm had ebbed.
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“Our performances are for the public, and we design them with them in mind. In many cases, we attract as many people from the Doylestown community as from the DelVal community.” -Dr. Jack Schmidt, professor of music and chair of the Department of Liberal Arts
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Horizons
How did a university that is focused on majors like business, animal science, and conservation and wildlife management develop such a strong extracurricular focus on music and performing arts? You might say it’s in the school’s DNA. Or at least that of its founder, Rabbi Dr. Joseph Krauskopf. Dr. Krauskopf was a huge supporter of music and deeply touched by it. When he first came to the U.S. from Prussia, his protege was Mary Bridges Canedy Slade, a well-known hymn composer. Later, one of the many books he wrote was a hymnal or service book in collaboration with Russell King Miller, organist at Keneseth Israel, where he was a rabbi. King Miller was the most respected composition instructor in Philadelphia at the time, known for guiding American composer Vincent Persichetti’s studies. No wonder what began as a small farming school showed such an interest in music from its founding in 1896.
“I think there were four people in the band,” he remembers. “I thought, what in the world am I going to do with a band that has four people in it?” Eventually, an idea began to form. Why not invite musicians from the community to sit in? The notion would prove to be the key to the vitality of DelVal’s musical groups. Today, DelVal’s Symphonic and Jazz Bands are made up of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and interested Bucks County musicians. The Chorale includes a few community members, too. Performances commonly draw audiences of 375 to 400, and specials like holiday concerts often require added performances. “This concept really jump-started the growth of our music programs,” said Dr. Schmidt. “Our performances are for the public, and we design them with them in mind. In many cases, we attract as many people from the Doylestown community as from the DelVal community.”
