LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the
Mendelssohn Club of Albany to be celebrated on May 16, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those renowned musical societies that have brought entertainment
and cultural enrichment to the citizens of the great State of New York;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to commem-
orate the 100th Anniversary of the Mendelssohn Club of Albany to be
celebrated with a Concert at Chancellor's Hall on Saturday, May 16,
2009, at St. James Methodist Church, Kingston, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Mendelssohn Club was founded in 1909 by Dean T.J. Bradley
of the Albany College of Pharmacy and Dr. Frank Sill Rogers, organist
and choirmaster for St. Peter's Episcopal Church; and
WHEREAS; Dr. Frank Sill Rogers was the founding conductor; with the
men from his choir as a nucleus, he used his connections with other
choirmasters to recruit male singers; soon, there was hardly a male
choir singer in the City of Albany who was not a member; and
WHEREAS, Rehearsals were held at St. Peter's Parish House on State
Street; the Club performed their concerts in white tie and tails, and
also sang at many of Albany's civic and social events; some of the
original members continued to sing with the group for 30 to 40 years;
and
WHEREAS, After the death of Dr. Rogers in 1934, there was a succession
of conductors, including accompanist Stuart Swart, noted composer and
arranger Mark Andrews, T. Frederick H. Candlyn, and J. Lawrence Slater;
and
WHEREAS, Early Mendelssohn Club concerts featured performances by
guest artists including Marian Anderson and Nelson Eddy; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1940s, Reinald "Werrie" Werrenrath, a former
leading baritone with the Metropolitan Opera, was named as the new
conductor for the Mendelssohn Club of Albany; through his New York
connections, many past and present opera stars were guest artists at the
Club concerts; and
WHEREAS, In 1952, Joel Dolven was appointed conductor; he was the
first former member to become conductor; in 1936, he joined the Club
while a music teacher at Albany High School; he served as both the
Minister of Music at Westminster Presbyterian Church, and Professor of
Music at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; and
WHEREAS, Under his illustrious leadership, the quality of performance
hit new heights; he remained conductor until 1967; in 1974, the Joel
Dolven Vocal Awards were established in his honor with the mission to
encourage the study of vocal music; and
WHEREAS, The Mendelssohn Club of Albany sang the next five concerts
under guest conductors who were candidates for the permanent position;
in 1968, Carl Steubing, the Director of Music for the Scotia-Glenville
Schools, was named conductor; he remained in this position for the next
five years; and
WHEREAS, In 1974, J. Lawrence Coulter became the next conductor; he
brought with him a rich background in both education and professional
performance having been Professor of Music at four colleges, a vocal and
instrumental soloist, a composer, an arranger, and a conductor; further-
more, he was the Performing Arts Specialist for the New York State
Education Department; during the summers, he also served as conductor of
the Yankee Male Chorus; he remained conductor until 1984; and

WHEREAS, Again, from 1984 until 1985, the Mendelssohn Club of Albany
performed under two guest conductors, David Janower and Myron Hermance;
Myron Hermance was named conductor in the fall of 1985, and remained at
the helm through the fall of 1988; and
WHEREAS, From 1989 to 2001, Jeffrey L. Vredenburg served as the
Mendelssohn Club of Albany's conductor; a graduate of Crane School of
Music, SUNY Potsdam, with a Master's Degree from SUNY Albany, he is
Director of Choruses for the Saratoga Springs Schools; through his lead-
ership, the Club continued to grow and prosper, culminating in a
performance at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, which received a
standing ovation; and
WHEREAS, The Mendelssohn Club of Albany welcomed Dr. Victor Klimash as
conductor in the fall of 2001; his broad experience with music and
choral groups will ensure the continuation and growth of our 93-year
tradition of providing quality male choral music; in addition, half of
the current membership joined the Club during the last 10 years; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Mendelssohn Club is one of the landmark insti-
tutions in the Northeast, and a unique part of the cultural life of the
City of Albany; this prominent musical group flourishes in both spirit
and in song; and
WHEREAS, The arts, in whatever form depicted, are central to human
expression; they are truly a universal language and their contribution
to the development of friendship and understanding among all peoples
cannot be underestimated; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Mendelssohn Club of Albany to
be celebrated May 16, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Mendelssohn Club of Albany.