History of Singing Quakers

Lucy Francisco became the head of the music department. She expanded the music program to attract the general student in..Read More

In 1914, Lucius Ades took over the music department. During this time, enrollment in music courses and performing ensembles increased.

While Glee Club tours had been separate for the men’s and women’s ensembles up till this point, department chair, Lucius..Read More

Roy Campbell planned a spring tour for the entire music department and a final “Home Concert” in Alumni Auditorium following..Read More

Campbell continued to use the name “Combined Glee Clubs” for an unidentified amount of time. But concert programs revealed that..Read More

Alan Irwin replaced Roy Campbell as department head. Described as a “jolly little round man with a great love for..Read More

Irwin’s era was known as the “opera years.” After the success of The Gondoliers, a production complete with sets and..Read More

Charles Finney became director of the Singing Quakers. Due to global and economic stress of World War II, music tours..Read More

At the end of WWII, enrollment increased from 192 to 410 making the Singing Quakers a large, mixed ensemble, once..Read More

In June, a portion of the “Appreciation Night” concert was conducted by Noble Cain, a 1916 graduate of Friends University..Read More

The music department commemorated the 200th anniversary of composer J.S. Bach’s death with a three-concert festival: The Bach Festival of..Read More

Following a tour through Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, the choir began rehearsing for a spring Appreciation Night concert named “Symphony..Read More

On October 30, 1958 the Singing Quakers sang for the Richard M. Nixon campaign rally at the University of Wichita..Read More

In 1959, the beloved Singing Quakers conductor, Fred Mayer, announced his resignation. To express appreciation for the director’s commitment to..Read More

The Singing Quakers, in a sponsored event by the Wichita Chamber of Commerce and the Wichita Eagle, performed a newly..Read More

In its sixty-fifth year, the university launched plans for a new Fine Arts Building. President Roberts justified the project saying,..Read More

On May 31, the university broke ground on the new fine arts facility, following the Baccalaureate Service.

The Whittier Fine Arts Center was completed during the summer, dedicated on October 17, and was viewed by visitors at..Read More

The Singing Quakers took on a European concert tour in July, making them the first choir from Wichita to ever..Read More

In the early 1970s, folding chairs were added to Alexander Auditorium to increase seating capacity. People were seated in the..Read More

The first Candlelight Christmas Concert took place as an effort to raise money for a 1988 European tour. It was..Read More

The Singing Quakers performed Handel’s “Messiah” alongside the Wichita Symphony Orchestra.

Carl and Dixie Sebits gave the university $3 million to expand the science, jazz and ballet programs. A one-story addition..Read More

In the summer of 2000, the Singing Quakers toured throughout Australia. They performed in the Sydney Opera House and snorkeled..Read More

Dr. Cecil Riney announced his retirement after 45 years as a faculty member at Friends University. Dr. Mark Bartel assumed..Read More