Choral and Church Music

In addition to his enormous contributions to the choral program at Lewis & Clark, Glarum also left behind many writings detailing everything from how to run a choir to how to sing church music.  These writings have benefitted LC and the greater musical world.  His teachings still resonate with his former students as well - and as John Minter ’51 put it, there was always “a lot more to it than the music.”  Glarum made a point of teaching his students to listen, to take responsibility in the choir, to make beautiful music.

How to run a choir “Responsibilities”

“Music in Worship”

“Music - Its Place in the Church Service”

Construction of the John Stark Evans Music Center

Opened in 1954, Glarum played a key role in the construction of the Evans Music Center, a new facility during his time that facilitated the growth and development of the music department. It offered many novel features that were highlighted in a “Guided Tour” written by Glarum. The department also hosted a dedication concert to honor John Stark Evans and to commemorate the opening of the new building.

Glarum's Legacy Through Katherine FitzGibbon

In an interview with current Director of Choral Activities and Music Department Chair at Lewis & Clark, Katherine FitzGibbon illuminated many of the lasting impressions that Glarum has left at Lewis & Clark and on the choral community at large:

FitzGibbon credits Glarum with “getting our program on the map” through his facilitation of tours and his “vision of getting the choir program established on par with some of the great Lutheran choir schools.” She has also gotten to see Glarum’s legacy through “getting to know a lot of the alumni who had sung for Glarum and hearing from them over and over again how touring as a choir with Glarum was among the most important experiences they’d ever had in their lives.” This gratitude they feel has made itself apparent in recent years, as the choir has started touring again under FitzGibbon’s direction, aided greatly by the generous support of alumni of the Glarum era who are eager to see this great tradition carried on. FitzGibbon has also played a role in carrying on Glarum’s legacy through her revival of the choir’s signature piece under Glarum’s direction, Beautiful Savior, which the choir sings at the Holiday Gala each year, joined by members of the alumni choir who sang the piece while Glarum conducted.