History of Singing Quakers

The Women’s Glee Club embarked on their first tour through Kansas and Oklahoma while the men took to the rails and toured western Kansas. Due to the increasing popularity of these ensembles, interest in the University Choir decreased and the chorus was discontinued.

By 1914, the two Glee Clubs were well-established as entertaining touring ensembles. Students would help organize the annual tours and concerts which featured a mix of choral works and popular tunes, often interspersed with dramatic readings, elaborate costumes, and intricate staging. The tours were an effective recruiting tool that sparked..Read More

Roy Campbell, new head of the Friends University Music Department, combined the Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs, following a national trend among universities during the 1920s. Instead of performing popular music, Campbell took cues from university a cappella choirs, leading the Singing Quakers to perform sacred music for memory in..Read More

For the first time, the name “Singing Quakers” appeared in the Home Concert program: The Singing Quakers: The Friends University Musical. It was listed again in the Friends University Catalogue under the subheading “Musical Organizations” in 1929.

During the Great Depression, the university was forced to pursue significant faculty and budget cuts. To help cushion the budget once again, the Singing Quakers increased their number of performances to help raise money for the institution. Their thirty concerts included performances at local churches, music organizations and on radio..Read More

Irwin started producing annual holiday concerts. The first concert was a collaborative effort between the Singing Quakers and Wichita’s First Presbyterian Church Choir. The 130-member chorus and five soloists performed sections of J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.

Waldo Neilsen took over leadership of the Singing Quakers for one year. Coming from an A Capella background, Neilsen wanted to start an additional ensemble that would be voices only. He named this touring choir the “A Cappella Choir” to distinguish it from the Singing Quakers.

Because of World War II, male students were forced to join the war effort, making the Singing Quakers a nearly an all-women ensemble for a number of years. While Finney remained the Music Department head, voice faculty member, Elsa Haury directed the women’s chorus. Haury kept the ensemble busy, performing..Read More

Fred C. Mayer was selected as head of the Music Department and director of the Singing Quakers. Mayer had been directing ensembles since his high school years and majored in orchestral conducting at Capital University. While at Friends University, he was eager to reestablish choir tours. These tours proved to..Read More

The Singing Quakers celebrated their 25th anniversary year under the direction of Fred C. Mayer. Season tickets for the anniversary performances were sold at $2.50. One of the notable students in the 50-voice ensemble that year was that of future Singing Quakers Director, Cecil Riney.

Conductor and alum Noble Cain sent a composition to the university, dedicated to Fred Mayer and the Singing Quakers. The piece, entitled, “Second Crucifixion” was programmed for tour and home concerts.

An Ampex tape recorder was installed in the Watkins Rehearsal Hall, making it possible for ensembles to record their rehearsals and performances. The machine was also used to help students prepare solos for recitals and Symphony of Spring.

The alumni association brought in former Singing Quaker vocalists from throughout the United States to sing together at a special reunion concert.

Alum and former Singing Quakers student president, Cecil J. Riney assumed the position as the head of the Friends University School of Music, taking over the duties as the director of the Singing Quakers.

The City of Wichita was presented with an “All-American City” award, an award given annually to 11 cities on the basis of citizen participation and achievements. Look Magazine and the National Municipal League were co-sponsors of the award. Friends University’s Singing Quakers provided music at City Hall when the “All-America..Read More

Cecil J. Riney was promoted to the head of the music department upon receiving his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

In June of 1965, the Singing Quakers sang at the New York World’s Fair. The fair’s theme that year was “Peace Through Understanding.” It featured exhibitions designed by NASA, the debut of Walt Disney’s ‘It’s a Small World’ ride, and even the world’s largest cheese. The ensemble recorded a color..Read More

In preparation for an international tour, the choir performed a benefit concert at the Wichita Consistory Auditorium and a televised concert with the KAKE Television Station.

The Singing Quakers were invited to appear at the White House Christmas Pageant of Peace. The ceremony included Christmas selections by the U.S. Marine Band, a performance by the Singing Quakers and an address by President Nixon. The pageant was broadcasted live by all major radio and television networks within..Read More

Symphony of Spring was performed at the Century II Concert Hall, in 1986. 6000 people were in attendance over three concert nights. Contributions from the Union National Bank of Wichita made the grand performance possible.

In 1993, Symphony of Spring concert was a showcase of musical theatre compositions. The Singing Quakers performed selections from notable musicals such as My Fair Lady, Hello Dolly, Beauty and the Beast and Secret Garden.

In 1994, the Singing Quakers celebrated their seventieth anniversary. To celebrate, Dr. Riney invited vocal alumni to perform the opening song, “It’s a Grand Night for Singing,” at a final performance of Symphony of Spring.

Friends University celebrated it’s 100 anniversary! The Singing Quakers performed at the Centennial Kick-Off event on September 21, 1998. The event was attended by students, faculty, staff, past presidents and local political leaders. The Singing Quakers performed the “Friends University Hymn” at the event.  The vocal ensemble then joined the..Read More

Dr. Riney served as a guest conductor at Florida State University’s fourth annual High School Choral Festival, invited by two former students, Andre J. Thomas (’73) and Kevin Fenton (’84). Thomas presented Riney with “Walk the Streets of Gold,” a choral piece that Thomas wrote about Riney and the Singing..Read More