 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
"Choristers Guild, a Christian organization, enables leaders to nurture the spiritual and musical growth of children and youth." The History of Choristers Guild Recollections and Remembrance of Ruth and Leslie Jacobs Brief History, prepared by Madeline Bridges, 2007 - pdf format CHORISTERS GUILD was founded in Los Angeles by the late Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs, based on an idea—the systematic development of Christian character in boys and girls through the medium of the church Children’s Choir. Ruth’s desire to establish the GUILD grew out of her own personal experiences in choral music with children as well as her experiences in giving lectures and conducting festivals and seminars. As she began to achieve more national prominence, she received numerous “How do you do it?” requests from all over the country. The idea of sending out mimeographed letters on a regular basis evolved. The CHORISTERS GUILD organization and the regular distribution of Choristers Guild LETTERS came into existence in 1949 in Los Angeles. The Guild was initially a personal venture of Ruth and her husband, Leslie Jacobs, who supported it financially. As the Guild grew, it was decided that the Guild should be incorporated. In 1953, Choristers Guild as an official organization was incorporated in Memphis Tennessee where the Jacobs were then living. A board of Directors was selected, and Leslie assumed the full-time position of Executive Secretary, giving Ruth more time to devote herself to the objectives of the Guild. In these early years, all activities were conducted from their home, by then in Santa Barbara, California. During the formative years, local city and regional chapters of the CHORISTERS GUILD were formed in a number of cities, usually as a result of a festival or workshop conducted by Ruth Jacobs. Regretfully, during a large children’s choir festival in Oklahoma in 1960, Ruth suffered a massive heart attack and died. Although this could have caused the end of CHORISTERS GUILD, wise counsel prevailed and the work of the GUILD continued, guided by persons of national recognition who served on the Board of Directors. By 1963 it was apparent that Leslie’s health would not allow him to meet the demands as the Guild continued its growth, so the Guild office was moved from California to Dallas, TX, where Dr. Federal Lee Whittlesey left Highland Park Methodist Church to become Executive Director. The GUILD office has remained in the Dallas, TX area. The Whittlesey years were ones of expansion and growing pains: renting office space, purchasing equipment, increased personnel, receipts and expenses, membership and outreach. The LETTERS moved from being mimeographed to printed, and there was a steady increase in the use of CG published materials which included anthems, workbook pages, hymn studies, bulletin covers, awards, and other choir aids. These materials were first distributed directly to members, but with the catalogue growth in the area of anthems, appealing posters, and recruitment aids, many music dealers began carrying CG music and materials. With Dr. Whittlesey’s retirement in 1968, Dr. John S. C. Kemp became the new Executive Director. Both he and his wife Helen came with a history of long involvement in the Guild as clinicians for seminars, contributors to the LETTERS, John’s position of the Board of Directors, and charter membership in the organization. They were enthusiastically welcomed and membership continued to grow. For many, Helen, who served the GUILD as Director of Workshops and Festivals (both before and during John’s term as Executive Director), became the face of Choristers Guild. When the Kemps resigned in 1972, Guild leadership passed briefly to Cecil Lapo and then in 1978 to John Burke. During these years, membership increased and sales of anthems and materials continued to climb. Distribution was a major focus of the office staff, and CG began exhibiting at many national conventions and workshops. As distribution costs continued to rise, the decision was made to accept a proposal from the Lorenz Corporation to begin handling all distribution of CHORISTERS GUILD music and materials. This partnership began in April 1983, and has proven to be a wise and beneficial move. Patricia M. Evans became Executive Director in 1987 and under her leadership an Endowment Fund was established, and the decision was made to change the name of the LETTERS to THE CHORISTER. The guild continued to meet the needs of choir leaders through expanded publishing of materials such as Stepping Stones and through the hiring of a full-time music editor. After a time of transition, during which the leadership of the Guild experienced two short-term Executive Directors (George Eison and James Steel), the hiring of current Executive Director Jim Rindelaub in 2004 marked the beginning of a period of adjustment and increased fiscal responsibility on the part of the CG Board and the GUILD national office. The board itself moved from a size of 17+ members to an average membership of 7-10. Whereas the Board had previously met only once a year in the fall (with the Executive Committee meeting each spring), the entire board now meets twice a year. The CG office staff has been streamlined to more effectively carry on the work of the Guild. These changes have proved fiscally very beneficial to the organization; year-end financial reports now reflect solid financial policies and operation. It is the intent and prayer of the Board that CHORISTERS GUILD continue its renewed strength and direction in recent years while reaffirming its primary mission—enabling leaders to more effectively nurture the spiritual growth of children and youth through music. The Board has encouraged THE CHORISTER to reclaim its original purpose—to provide direct assistance to children’s choir directors. Additionally, the Board continues to affirm the remarkable success of CG in the area of handbell music sales in addition to the GUILD’s continued success in the publishing of choral music and other teaching materials for use in children’s and youth choirs. |
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Join Today | Our Catalog | News and Events ©Choristers
Guild 2000-2002 |