Articles Page
This area documents the history of the Chorus through a timeline of feature articles, news clippings, and other documents. For more reviews of specific concerts, see the program page, and for other images and memorabilia, see the photos and music pages.
Founding to 1939 | | | 1940-1944 | | | 1945-1954 | | 1955-1959 | | 1960-1964 | | | 1965 and beyond
Richard B. Westbrock (below right), founding director of the Inland Children's Chorus, organized the Westbrock Singing Boys in 1933. Click on the image below and scroll to view articles that document Richard Westbrock's early musical career and training.
The December 1936 issue of The Inlander includes a photo of the founding members of the newly formed Inland Children's Chorus. The issue includes photos of Richard Westbrock with chorus members and Raymond Sovey, who staged the performance of the Chorus. Click on the image below and scroll to view.
On June 4, 1937, the Inland Children's Chorus makes its first public appearance at a concert culminating a major drive to support the area Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Click on the image below and scroll to read newspaper reports of the program.
Two December 1937 newspaper articles report on an upcoming Christmas concert with the Chorus and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. They describe with literary allusions the impact of the Chorus in an age of "realism and sophistication." Click on the image below and scroll to view.
A December 1937 issue of The Inlander includes photos of Chorus members and clippings from newspaper reviews from the first concert with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Click on the image below and scroll to view.
In March 1938, Inland management announces that the increasing number of applications to the Chorus requires specific regulations for the Chorus. Click on the image below to view.
A December 1938 newspaper clipping reports that the Chorus "has come to be recognized as one of the outstanding groups of its kind in the United States." Click on the image to view.
A January 1940 issue of The Inlander includes a photo of the concert group and photos of members with Wallace Whittaker, Inland's founding General Manager. Click on the image below and scroll to view.
A December 1940 newspaper article describes how the traditional staging was developed by Raymond Sovey, a two-time Tony Award nominee and long-time Broadway theatrical designer. Sovey returned to Dayton frequently to refine the staging, and he addressed audiences at several concerts. Click on the image below and scroll to view the article and a biography for Sovey.
The December 1942 Christmas concert was performed at Masonic temple auditorium, as described in a review, during the "whirlwind of world war." Click on the image below.
The 1943 Christmas issue of The Inlander features a dramatic cover with illustration art by George Harr. This issue also includes an article with a concert photo and describes upcoming Chorus broadcasts on radio stations WHIO and WING. Click on the image below.
The May 1944 cover of The Inlander features Angela Mae Lehman who concludes eight years with the Chorus. The issue includes a four-page spread with photos of Chorus members and their families as well as a preview of the upcoming series of concerts. Click on the image below and scroll to view.
The October 1944 visit of Milton Cross (the "voice of the Metropolitan Opera") featured a special performance by the Chorus. Mr. Cross was presented with a gift album containing records by the Chorus and autographs of all the members. Click on the image below and scroll to view two articles about this event. See also the original photos from this event on the "photos" page (link).
The December 1944 edition of the Dayton Sunday Journal Herald ("Spotlight" section) features the Chorus in a cover article with a two-page photo spread. Click on the image below to view the article. The original newspaper photos with detailed reporter notes appear on the "photos" page (link).
The December 1944 edition of the Dayton Daily News reports on the upcoming pair of concerts with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. The article features a photo of Chorus members Linda Crumb and James Lehman. Click on the image below to view.
The December 1944 issue of GM Folks, the General Motors national magazine, features the Chorus on its cover. Click on the image below and scroll to view.
A spring 1945 feature article describes a series of upcoming concerts and states that the Chorus is "the first of its type to be established by an industrial concern." Click on the image below to view.
A May 1946 concert at the Dayton Art Institute was dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Charles F. Kettering because of "the intense interest of the Ketterings in the welfare of the group." Click on the image below.
A December 1950 newspaper clipping describes the upcoming concert with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. See the program for the December 20, 1950 concert on the programs page. Click on the image below to view.
A January 1952 article reports on the TV appearance of the Chorus on Steve Allen's "Stars for Polio." Click on the image below to view the article and autographs of Steve Allen and Baseball Hall of Fame sportswriter Si Burick given to a Chorus member.
In the fall of 1953, Richard Westbrock (below center) meets with tenor David Lloyd (left) of the New York City Opera and guest conductor Hugh Ross (right) of New York's Schola Cantorum in preparation for the world premiere stage production of Benjamin Britten's Saint Nicolas. Click on the image below and scroll to view newspaper reports prior to the concert.
A December 1953 edition of the Dayton Daily News includes a feature on the costumes for the upcoming production of Benjamin Britten's Saint Nicolas. Click on the image below.
December 20, 1953: Eleazar de Carvalho (below left), conductor of the Rio de Janeiro Symphony Orchestra, congratulates Hugh Ross (center) and Richard Westbrock (right) on the production of Benjamin Britten's Saint Nicolas. See the full concert program with published reviews. Click on the image below and scroll to see news photos from the concert and an invitation to a reception hosted by civic leader Miriam Rosenthal with comments by Mary (Westbrock) Lubinski.
In a January 1955 letter, John D. O'Brien announces to Chorus members the sudden death of Richard B. Westbrock. Click on the image below and scroll to view the letter and published obituaries.
The summer 1955 issue of The Inlander announces the appointment of Joseph P. Geiger who then directed the Chorus from 1955 to 1970. Click on the image below.
The December 1955 issue of GM Folks, the General Motors national magazine, includes a feature article on the Chorus, "one of the country's outstanding children's singing groups." The article includes photos of the Chorus at practice and in preparation for a concert. Click on the image below and scroll to view.
February 1956: Concerts at the Dayton Art Institute often included multiple performances to accommodate large audiences. Click on the image below and scroll to view news clippings for this concert as well as a photo and description of the Italian Renaissance style Dayton Art Institute building.
An April 1956 article announces the graduates of the Chorus and the upcoming Spring concert. Click on the image below.
The December 1956 Christmas concert helps open the newly remodeled three-thousand-seat Memorial Hall. Click on the image below and scroll to view both the clipping and a photo of Memorial Hall, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A December 1956 newspaper clipping describes an upcoming concert with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Click on the image below to view.
February 1957 newspaper articles report on two upcoming performances on Sunday afternoon at the Dayton Art Institute. One clipping features a photo of six members from two families. Click on the image below.
A July 1957 feature reports on the Chorus picnic at LeSourdsville amusement park. Click on the image below. More snapshots available on the photos page.
The December 1957 issue of The Inlander includes a feature article on the Chorus with photos in the practice room at the Loretto. Click on the image below and scroll to view.
A May 1958 article announces the graduates of the Chorus and describes the May 4th Spring concert, which included a tribute to the 50th anniversary of General Motors Corporation. Click on the image below.
A 1959 clipping announces Chorus members who graduated at the Spring Festival concert on April 26. Click on the image below.
A fall 1959 news clipping reports that Joseph P. Geiger has 245 children rehearsing, seventy of which are "new this year and many will find a place in the famed singing group, which is starting its 24th season." Click on the image below.
A December 1959 issue of The Inlander includes photos of Chorus members who will participate in the upcoming Christmas concert, which "will mark the official opening of the Christmas Season for some 2,500 Daytonians." Click on the image below.
A November 1960 issue of The Inlander announces the Silver Anniversary Concert with a front-page spread of articles on the history of the Inland Children's Chorus. Click on the image below.
A December 1960 newspaper article reports on the upcoming Silver Anniversary concert to be held December 13, 1960. The article notes that the chorus made its first appearance on December 20, 1936. Click on the image below.
A January 1961 issue of The Inlander includes photos from the Silver Anniversary concert and announces the retirement of John D. O'Brien who is presented plaque from members of the Chorus. Click on the image below and scroll to view.
A December 1963 feature article describes the Chorus at a typical practice (with photos). Click on the image below and scroll to view.
A January 1964 article includes behind-the-scenes photos at the December 1963 Christmas concert. Click on the image below and scroll to view.
Two 1964 articles announce the graduates of the Chorus and the upcoming spring concert on May 12. Click on the image below and scroll to view.
A May 1965 article describes the Chorus graduates who reflect on the value of their experience. Click on the image below and scroll to view.
A 1966 Christmas special on Dayton's NBC affiliate (now WDTN) features the Chorus. The program was hosted by Johnny Gilbert, long-time announcer and the distinctive voice of the television game show Jeopardy. Click on the image below to view.
A January 1968 feature article describes a performance at the White House by former Chorus member Joy Clements (nee Joyce Marie Albrecht). Clements joins Lady Bird Johnson in hosting young people for a special performance of Hansel and Gretel. The article also provides details of Clements' career as a leading coloratura soprano ("prima donna") at the Metropolitan Opera. Click on the image below and scroll to view the article.
A January 1968 edition of "Dayton Leisure" reports that former Chorus member Joseph Merrill Albrecht (brother of Joy Clements) will perform with his wife Peggy at Wright State University in Brahms' A German Requiem. Click on the image below to view.
An April 1968 cover article describes two generations of Chorus members: LaDonna (Beatty) White and her daughters Marilyn Jean and Gretchen. The issue also includes a description of the Spring Festival concert on May 14 and the 1968 Chorus graduates. Click on the image below and scroll to view.
The April 1970 issue of The Inlander announces the graduates of the Chorus. The article describes the upcoming May 12 concert and reports that "former Chorus graduates Joan and Jane Boston, Alfred Wimmers and Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Schamel will be featured soloists and dancers during the evening's program." Click on the image below to read details of what would be the final performance of the Chorus.
In the fall of 1970, the Dayton Daily News fine arts editor, Betty Dietz, reports on the official dissolution of the Inland Children's Chorus. Click on the image below.
In 1995 Matt Phelan, former member (1936-1943) and graphic design executive, developed a tribute publication as well as restored recordings on cassette tapes that he distributed free of charge. His efforts are reported in a Dayton Daily News article. Click on the image below and scroll to view both the article and Matt Phelan's scrapbook. Warning: large file (8.8MB).
On May 21, 2010, former members met at Wright State University to establish the Inland Children's Chorus Collection and the partnership of Special Collections and Archives with InlandChorus.com. Click on the image below to view the Dayton Daily News report of the meeting. See the about us page for more photos and link to the online version.
