History of Ohio Music Education Association

Lowell Mason was credited with the introduction of music instruction in the Boston Public Schools in 1828.¹ The program was well organized, well-staffed and well-funded. Inservice activities took place to ensure that the programs were a success. Unfortunately, the economic downturn in the 1870s saw music staff cuts and student population increases. Then, as now, when the funding dries up, the first programs to be cut are the arts.Paul D. Sanders found that early introduction of vocal music into Ohio’s public schools, taught by special music teachers, were found in Zanesville in 1842, Cincinnati in 1844, and Cleveland in 1846.² Sanders found that many school districts (Cincinnati, 1837; Cleveland, 1838; Oberlin and Zanesville, 1842; Columbus and Dayton, 1848; Massillon, 1849; Dayton, 1849; Toledo, 1856; and Akron in 1859) were offering music instruction by classroom teachers. Rich (1946) reports that, in 1858, vocal music was taught in 64 of Ohio’s 88 counties by 1859.³ Of interest was the classification of music teachers as ‘music supervisors,’ rather than teachers, since they taught in various school.I remember being told by Del Graff, retired music supervisor for the Medina County Schools Educational Service Center, that during his early years as a county supervisor it was very common for ‘music supervisors’ to travel by bike from one building to another. Any teacher who taught in more than one school was usually referred to as a ‘supervisor.’ During my years as a fine arts supervisor, it was common that music teachers would drive their car from one school to another to teach music classes. And, it was often the case that music teachers would teach in one or more school districts. As school population grew, music teachers were employed with a school district to teach music, then at the individual building level, and finally, within an individual building teaching either instrumental or vocal music.It should be noted that special in-service for teachers was provided at the first teachers’ institute in Ohio with the purpose of improving public education as held in Sandusky on September 2^nd, 1845.⁴ Each day of the institute was divided into morning, afternoon, and evening sessions, with musical activities conducted several times during each day (described as ‘music,’ ‘vocal music,’ ‘singing,’ ‘exercises in music,’ and, exercises in musical music).⁵ It was clear that the organizers of the institute and the participants found that music education in-service was valued.While vocal music in the schools was the norm, most instrumental music instruction in the schools took place outside the school day, either before or after classes. It was likely that local town/community bands made room for young musicians as a recruiting device as well.In an apparent attempt to promote their product and entertain an audience, the Band Instrument Manufacturers’ Association primarily, and secondarily the music industry as a whole, sponsored the first Schools Band Contest of America in Chicago (IL) on June 4 through 6, 1924.¹¹  The promoters of the event initially hoped for two hundred high school and grammar school bands from all parts of the country to participate; however, only thirty-five “selected” bands would appear in Chicago to compete for the $1,000 first prize.  Almost half of the participating bands were from the greater Chicago area (15) with the rest representing nine states.

Twenty-one school bands with a total enrollment of over 1,000 students participated in the first official high school band contest sponsored by OHSBA.

The contest opened on Thursday morning, May 21^st. On Thursday evening at 8 p.m., the solo contest was held. The solo program included competition for cornet, French horn, flute, saxophone, clarinet, baritone horn, and trombone. The remaining bands performed in the morning session on Friday, May 22. At 3 p.m., a parade of all participating bands was held in the downtown Akron business section. A concert by the massed bands concluded the afternoon session.¹⁸

The 17th Annual Music Supervisors’ National Conference (MSNC) was held on April 7 through 11, 1924 in Cincinnati and we must assume that there were meetings and/or at least conversations going on between Ohio music educators.¹⁹ Williams surmised that the MSNC meeting must have a precursor to the founding of Ohio’s first music educator organization. Lee Suman, past OMEA president and state historian, in a letter to Percy Hall stated that the first meeting of the Ohio High School Band Association (OHSBA) took place on June 6, 1924 in Fostoria with 14 charter high school band director members (Byron Aldrich, Sandusky; M. Bryon Hughes Cleveland; Todd G. Simon, Fremont; Harry F. Clark, Cleveland; L. Verner Kelley, Akron; Guy Sutphen, Toledo; Herman Cooper, Marietta; Peter McCormock, Cleveland; John W. Wainwright, Fostoria; J. Claire Hazen, Bucyrus; Milton Niegarth, Cleveland; J. Merton Holcombe, Mansfield; and, C. Henry Rodegerdts, Tiffin).²⁰ This was also the date of the first Ohio High School Band Contest. Williams states that Jay W. Fay, chair of the MSNC instrumental music committee served as temporary chair for the 14 Ohio band directors present in Fostoria for the June 6 meeting for the purpose of forming an organization which would “promote high school band contests.” At this first organizational meeting, John W. Wainwright was elected president; Harry F. Clarke, vice-president; J. Merton Holcombe, treasurer; and Miss. Vivian Pearson was appointed by Wainwright as secretary.First officers of OHSBA (1924-1925) were elected on June 6th, 1924, Fostoria, Ohio during the first Ohio High School Band Contest.