October 1927 – Combined choirs of all the Schwenkfelder churches directed by Raymond Seeburger sang Ballard’s “Prayer and Praise” cantata at the 31st annual Convention of Schwenkfelder Sabbath Schools on October 29, 1927 in the Philadelphia Church at 30th and Cumberland Streets. The organist was Helen Schultz Cook and Raymond Stong, pianist.
May 1928 – At the tenth anniversary of the dedication of the Lansdale Schwenkfelder Church on May 6, music was furnished by all the choirs of the denomination.
May 1929 – General Conference was held in the Towamencin Schwenkfelder Church on Saturday, May 18th and was well attended. In the evening the combined choirs of all the churches rendered a cantata entitled “Prayer, Promise and Praise” directed by Raymond Seeburger. The same cantata was sung on May 25th in the Methodist Church at 29th and York Streets with Mrs. Helen Schultz Cook at the organ. One of the officials of the church when asked if our chorus could use their church because of the room and the fine organ, said: “we will do anything for the Schwenkfelders”.
June 1929 – On the evening of June 8, the combined choirs of the Schwenkfelder churches repeated the above cantata directed by Raymond Seeburger in the Palm Church. At this service a Steinway Grand Piano was dedicated.
July 1930 – On July 26 on a height overlooking the Washington Chapel at Valley Forge, more than 75 combined choir members and friends enjoyed a picnic.
October 1930 – On October 19 members of Lansdale Towamencin choirs sang special selections at General Conference at the Palm Church. The same selections were rendered in the Lansdale Church in the evening.
May 1931 – The annual concert by the United Schwenkfelder Choirs was held in the Towamencin Church at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night after the General Conference of May 16. The choir was led by Raymond Seeburger with piano accompaniment by Mrs. Marian Weber Glass. There were 84 members in the choir.
June 1932 – The annual concert by the United Schwenkfelder Choirs was rendered at General Conference on May 21 in the Palm Church under the leadership of Raymond Seeburger with Mrs. Glass at the organ. Seventy-five voices were in the choir. The program was repeated in the Lansdale Church on Saturday evening, June 4.
May 1933 – The annual concert of our United Choirs was held in the Towamencin Church at 8:15 p.m. on May 27. Raymond Seeburger was the director with Mrs. Glass at the piano. The program was repeated in the Lansdale Church on June 10.
April 1934 – On April 16 at 8:15 p.m., the United Choirs with Raymond Seeburger as Director and Mrs. Glass as pianist were guests of the Roxborough Symphony Orchestra in the new Roxborough High School. The chorus numbered 95 voices with 50 orchestra members. The orchestra played their selections first followed by the United Choir selections. The orchestra accompanied the choir when they rendered their final number “The Hallelujah Chorus” with telling effect.
September 1934 – At 2:00 p.m. on September 23 in the Palm Schwenkfelder Church, the United Schwenkfelder Choir of 121 voices sang 20 selections from Handel’s Messiah as part of the Bicentennial celebration. The choir was directed by Raymond C. Seeburger, the organist was Helen Shultz Cook and pianist was Marion Weber Glass.
October 1935 – The Stewart Junior High School in Norristown was the place for the United Schwenkfelder Choirs annual concert on Friday evening, October 4 at 8:15 p.m. Raymond Seeburger directed with Mrs. Glass at the piano.
November 1936 – The Stewart Junior High School in Norristown was the location for the annual concert of the United Schwenkfelder Choirs on Friday, November 6 at 8:15 p.m. Raymond Seeburger was the director and Paul Bartholomew from Lansdale was piano accompanist. Rehearsals were held in Norristown and Lansdale churches. On Sunday afternoon, November 22, a reception was held in the Worcester Church for our missionary, Miss Flora K. Heebner who left her home on August 7, 1904 to begin her missionary activities inChina. The United Schwenkfelder Choir sang several selections.
October 1937 – The Palm Schwenkfelder Church was the location for the Annual Concert of the United Schwenkfelder Choirs on Sunday, October 3, at 2:30 p.m. The 87 singers were again directed by Raymond C. Seeburger with Paul Bartholomew as the accompanist. The concert was repeated in the Towamencin Church on October 31st.
October 1938 – The United Schwenkfelder Choirs again rendered two concerts this year. The first was given in the Towamencin Church on Sunday, October 2nd at 3:00 p.m. The second was given in the Palm Church on Sunday, October 23rd at 3:00 p.m. The 93 singers were directed by Raymond Seeburger with Paul Bartholomew as accompanist.
September 1939 – The annual concerts of the United Schwenkfelder Choirs was presented in the Palm Church on September 17 at 3:00 p.m. and in the Towamencin Church on September 24. The director and accompanist were the same as previous concerts.
October 1940 – The annual concerts of the United Schwenkfelder Choirs were presented in the Towamencin Church on October 13th and in the Palm Church on October 27th at 3:00 p.m. the 100 singers were directed by Mr. Seeburger with Paul Bartholomew as accompanist.
October 1941 – The annual concert of the United Schwenkfelder Choirs was rendered in the Palm Church on October 12th and repeated in the Towamencin Church on October 26th. Raymond Seeburger directed with Paul Bartholomew as piano accompanist and Florence Schultz as organist at the concert in Palm.
It is to be noted that Miss Mae Bieler from Palm became Asst. Pianist in 1935 and then in 1939 as Mrs. Lester Schultz. She continued to play piano for many rehearsals over the years and then was the main accompanist beginning in 1946 up through 1978.
It is further noted that the United Choirs did not render any concerts during years 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1945 due to travel restrictions brought on by World War II.
October 1946 – The United Schwenkfelder Choirs resumed their annual concerts after the war years. The first was rendered in the Palm Church on Sunday, October 13 and the second in the Towamencin Church on October 27 at 3:00 p.m. From records in the Schwenkfeldian, the United Choir also sang again at the PalmChurchon Saturday, November 30th for the fiftieth annual convention of the Schwenkfelder Sunday Schools. Raymond Seeburger directed the choir with Mae Schultz as accompanist and Florence Schultz, organist.
October 1947 – The United Schwenkfelder Choirs presented their Sunday afternoon concerts at Palm and Towamencin on October 12 and 26, respectively. Raymond Seeburger was the director with Mae Schultz, accompanist and Florence Schultz, organist.
October 1948 – The United Schwenkfelder Choirs presented their Sunday afternoon concerts at Palm and Towamencin on October 10thand 24th respectively. Raymond Seeburger was the director with Mae Schultz as accompanist. No mention of an organist. There were 68 singers in the choir.
October 1949 – The United Choirs presented their afternoon concert in the Palm Church at 3:00 p.m. on October 23 with 41 singers. Ray Seeburger directed with Mae Schultz as accompanist. Could find no record of a repeat at Towamencin.
November 1950 – The United Choir presented their concert in the PalmChurchon November 5 at 3:00 p.m. and in the TowamencinChurchon Sunday, November 19th. Singers numbered 53 and were directed by Ray Seeburger with Mae Schultz as accompanist and Florence Schultz as organist.
June 1951 – The dedication of the Central Schwenkfelder Church during the week of June 10 featured a program of music on Tuesday evening, June 12th. The choirs of the Schwenkfelder Churches sang seven choral selections directed by Raymond Seeburger with Paul Bartholomew from Lansdale as guest organist. There were 66 members in the choir and soloists were Roberta Palmer, Esther Kulp, Raymond Stong and Robert Krauss.
November 1951 – The annual concert of the United Choirs was rendered on Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m. in Central Church. Mrs. Gerald H. Kriebel directed the choirs with Mrs. Lester Schultz as accompanist and Mrs. Esther Beyer, Mrs. William Hungate and Mrs. A. Leroy Tyson as organists. There were 64 singers in the choir.
October 1952 – The annual concert of the United Schwenkfelder Choirs was rendered on Sunday evening, October 19th at 8:00 p.m. in the Centra lChurch. Mrs. Gerald Kriebel directed with Mrs. Lester Schultz, pianist and Mrs. William Hungate, organist. Selections were based on the Four Seasons of the year. Singers numbered 100.
November 1953 – The annual concert of the United Schwenkfelder Choirs was rendered on Sunday evening, November 15th at 8:00 p.m. in the Central Schwenkfelder Church. Mrs. Gerald Kriebel directed the choir of 84 voices with Mrs. Lester Schultz at the piano and Mrs. William Hungate at the organ. Choir selections were again based on the four seasons of the year.
October 1954 – The annual concert of the United Schwenkfelder Choirs was presented in the Central Schwenkfelder Church on October 17th at 8:00 p.m. The selections were based on the four seasons of the year. Mrs. Gerald Kriebel directed the choir. Mrs. Lester Schultz was the piano accompanist and organists were Mrs. Esther Beyer and Mrs. William Hungate.
October 1955 – The United Schwenkfelder Choir was exceptionally busy this year. They gave two concerts in the Fall, one in Central Church on October 16th and the other in Palm on October 23rd. They also sang at the Schwenkfelder Memorial Day Services in Palm on September 24th; at the 60th anniversary celebration of the Schwenkfelder Home and Foreign Mission Board at Central Church on October 30th and at the “This is Your Life” service in honor of Rev. Robert J. Gottschall, minister of the Norristown Schwenkfelder Church on June 24th in the Stewart Junior High School. Mrs. Robert Scheid directed the choir with Mrs. Lester Schultz at the piano and Mrs. William Hungate at the organ. Sixty-six singers were in the choir.
December 1956 – The annual choir concert of the United Schwenkfelder Choir was presented on Sunday, December 9th at 2:45 and 7:45 p.m. in the Central Schwenkfelder Church. Mrs. Gerald Kriebel directed the choir with co-director Mrs. Robert Scheid. Mrs. Lester Schultz was pianist and Mrs. William Hungate, organist. All the anthems were appropriate for the Christmas season. Seventy-four singers were in the choir.
December 1957 – Two Christmas concerts by the United Schwenkfelder Choirs of 75 voices was presented in the Central Schwenkfelder Church on Sunday, December 1 at 2:45 and 7:45 p.m. Mrs. Gerald Kriebel directed the choir with Mrs. Lester Schultz at the piano and Mrs. William Hungate, organist. This was the first year that an invitation was extended to singers from the general public to join the choir.
December 1958 – The annual choir concerts by the United Schwenkfelder Choir was presented at Central Schwenkfelder Church on Sunday, December 7th at 2:45 and 7:45 p.m. Mrs. Robert Scheid directed the choir with Mrs. William Hungate at the organ and Mrs. Lester Schultz as pianist. Choir members totaled 77. At this concert the anthem “He Watching Over Israel” was dedicated to the memory of former director, Raymond Seeburger.
All of the choir concerts that follow were held in the Central Schwenkfelder Church:
Date Time Director Pianist & Organist
12/6/59 2:45 & 7:45 p.m. Helen Kriebel Mae Schultz/Dorothy Hungate
12/4/60 “ “ Margaret Scheid “ “
12/3/61 “ “ Helen Kriebel “ “
12/2/62 “ “ Margaret Scheid “ “
12/1/63 “ “ Robert Krauss “ “
12/6/64 “ “ Robert Krauss “ “
12/5/65 “ “ Margaret Scheid “ “
12/12/65 2:45 p.m. “ “ “ “
12/4/66 2:45 & 7:45 p.m. Robert Krauss “ “
12/11/66 2:45 p.m. “ “ “ “
12/3/67 2:45 & 7:45 p.m. Margaret Scheid “ “
12/10/67 2:45 p.m. “ “ “ “
12/1/68 2:45 & 7:45 p.m. Robert Krauss “ “
12/8/68 2:45 p.m. “ “ “ “
12/7/69 2:45 & 7:45 p.m. Margaret Scheid “ “
12/6/70 “ “ Robert Krauss “ “
12/5/71 “ “ Robert Krauss/ Mary Jane Ellis
Joel Anderson Catherine Hurst “
12/3/72 “ “ Robert Krauss for rehearsals
of cantata “Night of Miracles” “
The North Penn Symphony Orchestra was our guest with Leonard Murphy as conductor. He directed the choir and orchestra in our presentation of the cantata “Night of Miracles” by Peterson. Mary Jane Ellis was pianist with Catherine Hurst as Asst. Pianist.
December 1973 – The United Schwenkfelder Choir on Sunday, December 2, 1973 at 2:45 & 7:45 p.m. presented the cantata “The Story of Christmas” by Peterson in collaboration with the North Penn Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Murphy, conductor.Rehearsals were held during the Fall months directed by Robert Krauss. The pianists were Mary Jane Ellis and Catherine Hurst. Donald Eby was the organist.
Date Time Director Pianist/Organist
12/1/74 2:45 & 7:45 p.m. Lee deMets Catherine Hurst/Donna Fluke
12/7/75 “ “ Stanley Clattenburg “ /Donald Eby
12/5/76 “ “ “ “ /Trudy Morshead
12/11/77 “ “ Donald Eby Mae Schultz/Catherine Hurst &
Richard Nyce
12/3/78 “ “ Donald Eby/ Mae Schultz &
Robert Krauss Donna Ketterer/Catherine Hurst
Margaret Scheid
(This was our 50th Anniversary Concert)
Date Time Director Pianist/Organist
12/2/79 2:45 & 7:45 p.m. Donald Eby Donna Buckley/Catherine Hurst
12/7/80 “ “ Donald Eby Linda Clark/Catherine Hurst &
Richard Nyce
12/7/81 “ “ Roger Dean Carol Anders/Phillip Compton
12/5/82 “ “ Edward Bieler “ /William Weil
12/4/83 “ “ “ “ “
12/2/84 “ “ “ “ “
12/1/85 “ “ “ “ “
12/1/86 “ “ “ “ “
12/6/87 “ “ “ “ /Jean Smith
12/4/88 “ “ “ “ /William Weil
12/3/89 “ “ “ Dottie Heebner/Richard Schmidt
12/2/90 “ “ “ “ /William Nash
12/8/91 “ “ “ “ /Karen Black
12/6/92 2:30 & 7:30 p.m. “ “ /William Nash
12/5/93 “ “ “ “ / “
12/4/94 “ “ “ “ / “
12/3/95 “ “ “ “ / “
12/8/96 “ “ “ “ /Karen Black
12/7/97 “ “ “ “ / “
12/6/98 “ “ “ “ / “
12/5/99 “ “ “ “ /Jane Battaglieri
12/3/00 “ “ “ “ / “
12/2/01 “ “ “ Dottie Heebner &
Jane Cocks “
12/8/02 “ ” ” ” “