A music organization born in Brownwood a century ago returns home later this week to celebrate its centennial anniversary. The Texas Federation of Music Clubs will host the 100th convention March 19-21. More than 70 music teachers and members of TFMC from throughout the state will meet in Brownwood to take part in the three-day convention.
Jodie Armstrong, current member and past president said the convention will be a time for fun and reflection. “It will be filled with fellowship, music, history and fun,” Armstrong said. “Looking back on 100 years of history brings back a flood of memories and a great deal of pride in what has been accomplished to enrich the musical scene in our communities, state and nation.”
TFMC was organized in Brownwood in October, 1915, during an annual meeting of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs. The group is divided into several districts within Texas, with District 8 hosting the upcoming convention. According to organizational literature, the TFMC was founded to aid in the communication and cooperation among Texas musical organizations and to promote music throughout Texas. Several municipal music clubs were founded in the late 19th century, but remained independent or were affiliated with the TFWC music department. The TFMC is also a part of the National Federation of Music Clubs.
During the organization’s existence, thousands of young musicians have received scholarships. Schools statewide have also benefited, as the TFMC has donated thousands of instruments. Under the direction of the organization, musical festivals are held frequently, allowing music students of all ages to perform for judges who are music educators or professional performers. Thousands of budding musicians have taken part in the annual, local TFMC festivals in Brownwood. Many of those musicians have performed each year throughout their academic careers. Many local students have also received scholarships, while some schools in the area, as well as civic organizations have received pianos.
During World War I, the federation assisted the Red Cross, YMCA, and YWCA by providing musical entertainment for Texas military camps and scheduling musical benefits using Texas artists. During the depression years, the goal was to maintain musicians in order to conserve American cultural traditions and to encourage music as a morale booster in tough times by donating musical instruments and radios to schools and offering concerts in rural areas.
Although Brownwood was the birthplace of the Texas Federation of Music Clubs, Brownwood’s chapter was not formed until 1929, when the Schubert Club was officially added to the register of the Texas and National Federation of Music Clubs. The group has members from four counties. Betty Cooper, a member of the group discussed past activities. “The Schubert Club was a big to-do for many years,” Cooper said. “Everyone would wear their Sunday best to include hats and gloves and that was anytime we would attend a meeting, concert, tea or fundraiser.” Another president of the Schubert Club was Kathleen Fitzgerald, who also served as TFMC president.
During World War II, TFMC established a defense department which aided in USO entertainment, contributed funds to the Red Cross, and also donated phonographs, records, radios, music and instruments to military bases in Texas. Local clubs included production of music in war industries, twilight musicals, park concerts, radio broadcasts, folk festivals and weekly community sings and dances for enlisted men. TFMC was awarded the national organization’s highest honor for its wartime activities. The reputation of the TFMC was bolstered by the formation of the first juvenile music club in the country and the origin of National Music Week. The first 30 years of TFMC’s history made a substantial impact in the civic, art and political realm, but the rise of movies, radio and television, along with other forms of entertainment lessened that impact.
The early part of the 21st century has seen the TFMC continue to sponsor district-level Texas Junior music festivals and offering scholarships in the fields of dance, teaching, voice, instruments and music therapy. The next local festival will be held at Howard Payne University March 21.
The bulk of the centennial celebration and convention will be held at the Flagship Inn at Lake Brownwood. One portion of the event will be held March 20 at the First United Methodist Church when Olga Krayterman, a Bela-Russian born American pianist will perform. Krayterman is a past winner of the National Federation of Music Clubs Young Artist award. Making her orchestral debut with the South Carolina Philharmonic at 17, Krayterman has earned degrees from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.
Armstrong said she was proud of her association with TFMC. “As a young girl, my piano teacher put me into Federation competitions at ‘Old Main’ and I am privileged to say that more than 40 years later, I am still involved as a member, past secretary and president.” Armstrong emphasized that showing gratitude for all members, past and present, was important. “We would like to thank the many members and teachers who have given the gift of music to so many students over the years. Without their support, there would be no spotlight or instruction to better the students. That is the real reason we do this – to continue the inspiration and future of music and cultural arts.”
Convention organizers are requesting that anyone since the inception of TFMC or any individuals who ever performed at a festival meet for a group picture. The photo will be taken March 16 at 4:30 p.m. at the athletic stadium at Victory Life Academy. “It would be wonderful if we could get at least 100 people to be present to recognize the 100th birthday of the TFMC in Brownwood,” said TFMC member Janet Renfrow.
For more information, contact Jodie Armstrong at 642-0363.
Past presidents of the organization are:
1929-31 Mrs. H.A. Stephens
1931-21 Mrs. G.E.Keith
1932-33 Mrs. Edna Saunders
1933-35 Mrs. David Camp Sr.
1935-36 Mrs. Ellie Locks
1936-37 Mrs. Karl Moore
1937-38 Mrs. W.R. Parker
1938-39 Mrs. J.W. Lynch
1939-40 Mrs. J.C. Galloway
1940-1941 Mrs. Z.T Huff
1941-43 Miss Mavis Douglas
1943-44 Mrs. Virginia Williamson
1944-46 Mrs. H.A. Stephens
1946-47 Mrs. Joe McFarlane
1947-48 Mrs. Raby Emfinger
1948-49 Mrs. David Camp Jr.
1949-50 Mrs. Howard Scott
1950-51 Mrs. Sidney Hughes
1952-53 Mrs. Gordon Taylor
1953-54 Mrs. Horace White
1954-55 Mrs. J. B. Denman
1955-56 Mrs. J. E. Benfer
1956-57 Mrs. H. Grady Harlan
1957-58 Mrs. Charles Parsons
1959-60 Mrs. W.D. Pierce, Sr.
1960-61 Mrs. D.R. Franks
1961-62 Mrs. Nat Tracy
1962-63 Mrs. J.D. King
1963-64 Mrs. Alvin Walker
1964-65 Mrs. E.C. Bartholomew
1965-66 Mrs. Thomas Tope
1966-67 Mrs. Frank Smith
1967-68 Mrs. H. Grady Harlan
1968-69 Mrs. Walter Chambers
1969-70 Mrs. E.C. Bartholomew
1970-71 Mrs. M.D. Shirley
1971-72 Mrs. Jeff Fitzgerald
1972-73 Mrs. W.G. Kirk
1973-74 Mrs. H. Leo Tucker
1974-75 Mrs. M.D. Shirley
1975-76 Mrs. Steele McDonald
1976-77 Mrs. Louis L. Sherman
1977-78 Mrs. David Stovall
1978-79 Mrs. Tom Freeland
1979-80 Mrs. T.W. Wadill
1980-81 Mrs. Henry Chisholm
1981-82 Mrs. Jeff Fitzgerald
1982-83 Mrs. Steele McDonald
1983-84 Mrs. Don Roath
1984-85 Mrs. W.G. Kirk
1985-87 Mrs. E.C. Bartholomew
1987-88 Mrs. G.E. Moore
1988-90 Mrs. Hal McKinney
1990-91 Mrs. Don Roath
1991-92 Mrs. E.C. Bartholomew
1992-94 Mrs. Pat McClatchy
1994-97 Mrs. S.N. Cooper
1998-99 Mrs. Verna Mae Gilbreath
1999-00 Mrs. Don Snodgrass
2000-01 Mrs. S.N. Cooper
2001-03 Mrs. Jodie Armstrong
2003-04 Mrs. Katherine Levesay Marsh
2004-05 Mrs. Carla Goodwin
2005-07 Mrs. S.N. Cooper
2007-15 Mrs. Annora Ables
