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Marshall, Clarance A. (Alden) (March 15, 1859)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: March 15, 1859

Biography

MARSHALL, Clarance Alden, came to Minneapolis in 1891 from Boston, to take the directorship of the Northwestern Conservatory of Music.

His father was Alden B. Marshall, a contractor and builder of Newton, Mass., a veteran of the Civil war, and a man of sterling character, universally respected in the community. His mother was Clarissa Hemenway, a member of a prominent family in Framingham, Mass. Both families came from the oldest Puritan stock.

Clarance A. Marshall was born at Marlboro, Mass., March 15, 1859. His education was obtained in the public schools of Newton, Mass., where his parents removed in his ninth year, attracted by the reputation of the public school system of the city. He graduated from Newton High School at the age of eighteen, and entered Harvard College a year later as special student in art and music. Here, for a period of six years, he pursued his studies in music and art under John Knowles Paine and others.

His musical education was continued under some of Boston's most famous instrumental and vocal artists, with a large number of whom he was associated as pupil or in some higher capacity until he became associate conductor with Carl Zerrahn, the well-known director of the famous Handel and Haydn Oratorio society. Positions as church organist and choir director were held in Watertown, Roxbury and Boston, and as director of choral societies in Watertown, Dorchester and other Massachusetts cities, also in Bangor, Waterville, Augusta and other Maine and New England towns.

In the fall of 1887, a choir and three choral societies in Saginaw, Mich., held out inducements which were accepted, and a season was spent in that state. The next autumn, poor health making a southern climate preferable, he went to Nashville, Tenn., as leader of a surpliced choir and vocal instructor in a large young ladies' seminary. In the spring of 1889 he organized and made a success of the first great musical festival ever held in the city. In the fall of that year he accepted an offer from the Mozart Society, of Richmond, Va., where two years were spent as director of the chorus and orchestra of the society, and booking artists for the semi-monthly concerts. Here two large and successful festivals were organized and a great stimulus given musical matters.

In the summer of 1891 he purchased the Northwestern Conservatory of Music at Minneapolis, immediately assuming active direction. The institution had been in operation for six years, and his first year showed an attendance of about 130. During the nine years following, energy and ability in management has increased the annual attendance to nearly 500, the last graduating class numbering 24. Over 3,500 students have been connected with the school, and an alumni association of over 100 organized, the quarters occupied have been enlarged, and a great school, exerting a wide influence over the Northwest, has been firmly established.

Mr. Marshall became a member of the Immanuel Baptist church of Newton, Mass., when a lad, and still retains the membership, his professional connection with churches of various denominations making a transfer impracticable. During his residence in Minneapolis he has been organist and choir director of Westminster Presbyterian, Gethsemane Episcopal, and the First Congregational churches. He was married in 1891 to Miss Marion Howard, of Waterville, Me., and has one child, a daughter.

Source: McGrath, Hugh J. “History of the Great Northwest and its Progress: A Selected List of Biographical Sketches and Portraits of the Leaders in Business, Professional and Official Life.” The Minnesota Journal. Minneapolis, MN, 1901. (pp. 161-162)

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

American Composers Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0078
Scope and Contents

The American Composers Collection includes material related to over 150 composers, including manuscript music scores, programs, correspondence, news clippings, and other items. Material varies with composer, from a single item to several folders. The collection was amassed from various donations to the University of Missouri-Kansas City before being given to the Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections. Provenance is noted when known.

Dates: 1813 - 2006

Clarance A. Marshall, undated

 Series
Scope and Contents From the Collection:

The American Composers Collection includes material related to over 150 composers, including manuscript music scores, programs, correspondence, news clippings, and other items. Material varies with composer, from a single item to several folders. The collection was amassed from various donations to the University of Missouri-Kansas City before being given to the Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections. Provenance is noted when known.

Dates: undated

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Record 1
Collection 1
 
Subject
Art music 1
Music 1