In 1954, I was soon to be discharged from the Army at Fort Riley, Kansas and I needed a job.
I don’t remember how I found that on the bulletin board at the University of Oklahoma School of Music, there was a posting for the position of a vocal music teacher in Kiowa, Kansas. After a little investigation I found that the Northern Santa Fe Railway passed through Kiowa. I don’t know where I caught it; however, it most likely was near Fort Riley.
I arranged for an interview at which I was offered the job.
Kiowa is a town in Barber County, Kansas and It is located 1 mile north of the Kansas / Oklahoma state border.
It turned out to be a match made in heaven.
It was a small farming town. The population in 1950 was 1,674. In 2020 it had decreased to 902.
Many of its residents had strong musical backgrounds and many were Apostolic Christians. The Church was from the Anabaptist tradition that practices credobaptism, closed communion, greeting other believers with a holy kiss, a cappella singing and the head covering of women during services. The Apostolic Christian Church only ordains men, who are authorized to administer baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the laying on of hands.
There were 2 outstanding piano teachers in Kiowa, each turning out many students. The two outstanding students that I remember were Deanna and Donita. Donita was musically talented in every way and could have made a career in music. I am sorry that I didn’t keep up with them.
Helen Griswold, the school secretary, was a wonderful pianist. She was a marvel at sight-reading and served as my accompanist. Only a music teacher knows what a blessing it is to have a wonderful accompanist.
Kiowa’s High School had about 90 students and it had a heavy emphasis on music. This is shown in that it had two music teachers! One for vocal music (me) and one for instrumental music (Gary). Most students played in the band and orchestra as well as sang in my chorus and ensembles.
While sports were important, they took second place.
My predecessor in vocal music, whose name I don’t remember, was wonderful. This meant that when I arrived, they were ready to sing and didn’t need remedial training – only guidance and repertoire.
My high school commitments included, but not limited to, a mixed chorus of about 60 students, 2 triple trios (girls), a madrigal group, a boys’ quartet, and many private voice students (free).
Larry wanted badly to sing but I was unable to use him since he was a monotone. However, I worked with him privately and at the end he could sing only about 5 notes.
Esther Aberle had such a beautiful voice that I immediately knew that she needed more than I was capable of handling. While I worked with her on repertoire, I knew that I should not mess with her voice production. Later, I was able to arrange for her to go, on Saturdays, to Wichita State University for private voice lessons. She was terrific. I believe that she could have had a singing career.
In addition, I was asked and volunteered for other following community commitments: Methodist Church choir (Helen was the organist); a community chorus; and, wonder of all wonders, many farmers would come into town once a week to sing in a barbershop chorus which I was asked to direct. We would end the evening by dividing into quartets and singing.
One of my biggest problems was to find repertoire. I spent many weekends in a music store in Wichita, which was 89 miles north.
Kiowa had done well in the state competitions before my tenure, and they did very well under my direction. In most categories, we came in 1st in communities of our size.
In my first year, my former choir director at the University of Oklahoma, Chet Francis, was the judge of my chorus. He was very complimentary and gave me a top rating.
In my second year, I received the top rating in every entry except one B for a solo entry.
One memorable entry was my madrigal group of 8 singers. I had trained them to sing acapella and without my direction. Of the two songs, I remember only one, Madame Jeanette by Alan Muray (music) and Edward Lockton (lyrics), which, at the end, fades into nothingness. It took a few seconds to realize that it was over. It was so beautiful that a shiver ran up my spine. After their wonderful performance, the judge asked to see me. I hobbled over on crutches (I had recently broken my ankle from a fall on the ice). The judge offered me a job in the Kansas City school system. I was caught off balance. Stuttering, I was able to tell him that I would be going back for a master’s degree. He said, “let me know when you finish.”
For a beautiful on-line performance, google: Madame Jeanette Central Islip Concert Choir.
I was so lucky to be dropped into this position. In the scheme of things, I made a tiny imprint on Kiowa’s history; however, Kiowa made a major footprint into my life.
At the end of my second year, I was exhausted.
I could have made a good, but not great, high school music teacher. I found that my love of music far exceeded my talent. I wanted more out of my life.
I don’t recall how, but I met two librarians from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in nearby Alva Oklahoma. They recommended that I go back to the University of Oklahoma and get a master’s degree in Librarianship. That is another story.
In my recent research, I found that Kiowa no longer has its own school system, having merged with other communities to make the South Barber school system. Somehow, I am saddened.