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Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI, USA 48197
Dr. Diane L. Winder
Interim Department Head
emu.music@emich.edu
Phone: 734.487.4380
Fax: 734.487.6939
In the fall of 1931 Frederic Alexander, head of the Conservatory of Music at Michigan State Normal College (as Eastern was then known), asked Marius Fossenkemper--who chaired the instrumental music department from 1927 to 1947--to form and conduct a student orchestra. Fossenkemper (or "Fossie" as he was known to many of his friends) was commuting back and forth between Detroit and Ypsilanti, juggling his two jobs as clarinetist in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and professor of woodwinds at Normal. He accepted the challenge, and in October the "Little Symphony at Normal College" gave its first concert.
After a successful first season, Kenneth Jewel (the orchestra's student manager, who would later become music director of the Ken Jewel Chorale) wrote that "plans were underway for the orchestra's first tour." The orchestra traveled to Minneapolis the following year and performed at the University of Minnesota for the National Convention of Music Clubs. Fossenkemper recalled, "By the natural sequence of events, the orchestra received many fine reviews by influential music critics of our nation. The audience was very warm, receptive and reassuring in its applause: just as if for a victory celebration (which it was)." Walter Kramer, editor-in-chief for Musical America wrote, "This orchestra amazed me. It played with genuine skill."
Fossenkemper remembered most the joy of working with fine students such as Emily Mutter Austin, concertmaster; William Stewart, clarinetist; and Mary Helen Munson, pianist. In a like manner, a letter from one of Fossenkemper's former students says, "Whenever I hear beautiful orchestral music I remember [Fossenkemper] with a heart of gratitude." Fossenkemper stepped down as conductor in 1945 and left Eastern in 1947, continuing an active career in music. He passed away on September 13, 1999, at the age of 96 at a retirement community in Colorado.
In 1945 William Fitch, in his second year on the faculty, took over as conductor of the orchestra, which was now called the Ypsilanti Normal Symphony Orchestra. Fitch was also director of bands, taught woodwinds, and prepared instrumental music education students for teaching careers. Moreover, he directed the bands at Lincoln and Roosevelt High Schools. Among his accomplishments was the presenting of free children's concerts in Pease Auditorium, a tradition that was revived by the EMU Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony in 1996. William Fitch also holds the distinction of having the longest tenure as conductor in the EMUSO's history, serving until 1966. All three of his daughters played in the orchestra under his direction during their high school years. The later years of his career were devoted to teaching conducting and music education, supervising student teachers, and administration. He retired in 1976 and passed away on March 17, 2000, at the age of 86. Both Fossenkemper and Fitch were remembered at the EMUSO concert in April 2000, during which the orchestra performed--without conductor--one of Fitch's favorite pieces, "Nimrod," from Elgar's Enigma Variations.
Assisting Fitch with the orchestra beginning in 1947 was Maurice Riley, professor of violin, viola and music education. For 30 years he trained future string teachers and worked to improve the quality of string teaching throughout the state. Among his many legacies are his authorship of The History of the Viola, Volumes 1 & 2, and his establishment of the annual high school string workshops, during which Corelli's "Christmas" Concerto was often performed. He passed away on June 27, 1997, and was remembered at the string workshop that fall with the High School Honors Orchestra performing the "Christmas" Concerto.
By the 1960's Normal College had become Eastern Michigan University, and the orchestra had changed its name to the EMU - Civic Symphony Orchestra to reflect the addition of community members. In 1966 a young conductor on the rise, José Serebrier, came on the scene. He had already been an associate conductor to Leopold Stokowski and the American Symphony Orchestra in New York and a composer-in-residence with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra under George Szell. While at Eastern he challenged the orchestra with music of increasing difficulty and complexity. After two years Serebrier left to devote his full attention to composing and professional conducting. He has since conducted all the major orchestras in America and Europe, and he has recorded with many major orchestras. Recently he conducted the orchestra at the Grammy Awards presentation. He resides in New York City.
Edward Szabo came to Eastern in 1968 as orchestra director and professor of cello. He retained the civic orchestra model and continued the expansion and sophistication of the orchestra's repertoire. He was an organizer and director-conductor of the first fully staged operas at EMU. During this same time Szabo was instructor of cello, chamber music, conducting, basic string classes and chairman of the string department. In 1977 Szabo stepped down as orchestra director to devote his time to classroom teaching in the EMU music department, where he continues to serve.
A series of one-year appointments followed with Clark Suttle (1977-78) and Francesco DiBlasi (1978-79). This lack of continuity was difficult for the orchestra, and it declined in enrollment and prestige. A permanent replacement was finally found in Russell Reed (1979-91), a man who had distinguished himself during 20 years of music teaching in Michigan public schools. Reed recalls that on the day before his first semester at Eastern--the traditional day for orchestra auditions--not a single wind, brass or percussion player showed up to audition. Reed literally probed the halls and practice rooms to find players to sign up. He rebuilt the orchestra, and in 1985 he and the orchestra were honored by being asked to perform at the Midwestern Conference in Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor. Other highlights of Reed's tenure include annual tours to various parts of Michigan as part of the orchestra's outreach program. After 12 years Reed left EMU to devote more time to his directorship of the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra, and to a variety of other interests. He still resides in Ypsilanti.
The orchestra's current conductor, Kevin Miller, was appointed to the faculty at EMU in 1991 and has led the orchestra ever since. In January 1993 the orchestra returned to Hill Auditorium, performing the opening concert at the annual Midwestern Conference. The first four years were marked by being "on the road" as Pease Auditorium was closed for restoration. The reopening of Pease in October 1995 was a cause for great celebration musically, educationally and logistically.
Beginning in the fall of 1995 Miller formed the EMU Chamber Orchestra, drawn from members of the EMU Symphony Orchestra. This ensemble performed the complete Four Seasons by Vivaldi with violinist, Prof. Daniel Foster, and the Peter Sparling Dance Gallery. In March 1997 the Chamber Orchestra and EMU's Opera Workshop ushered the return of opera to Pease Auditorium with a production of Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte, followed in subsequent years with Rossini's Italiana in Algeri and Menotti's The Medium. Collaborations with the EMU Dance Program began in 1999 with a staged version of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf and continuing in succeeding years with the Prologue to Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty and a full-length production of Prokofiev's Cinderella in 2001.
A popular tradition of Halloween Concerts began in 1997, extending futher the orchestra's outreach to the community and giving the orchestra members (and their director) an opportunity to display a wide variety of talents. Miller also added visual elements to a number of regular orchestra concerts beginning with a multi-media presentation of The Planets by Holst in 1999.
Anyone who has ever attempted to write a history of anything knows that it is, at best, a work in progress. More details continually come to light, gaps are filled in, and personal reminicenses breathe life into the story. The passage of time will also add to the history, and with your support the orchestra looks forward a bright future.
-Kevin Miller