Club Promoted a Community Alive With Music

The Brevard Music Lovers’ Club was organized in November 1922.   The first meeting, hosted by Mrs. O.L. Erwin, included a discussion of music history and the election of club officers.  Miss Ellen Pike was named president, with Miss Elisabeth Godfrey, vice-president and Mrs. Mary Jane Walker, secretary.

Mary Jane Walker (later McCrary), pictured on the right, with a friend at
the Transylvania County court house fountain, was an original member of
the Brevard Music Lovers' Club.

The group, whose main purpose was the study of classical music by the masters of the past and present, held monthly meetings at the homes of members.  They also sponsored community music events.  The first activity was a community sing-a-long of carols and hymns December 23, 1922 hold on the courthouse lawn.

In honor of the first National Music Week, held in 1924, the club presented music books to Brevard High School and Brevard Institute.  Four years later they organized and sponsored a Junior Music Lovers’ Club at Brevard High School.

In addition, they sponsored a Lyceum course held over a several weeks in Brevard for many years and were the sponsor of local talent on Brevard Night on Asheville radio station, WWNC in 1928.

Other projects through the years included presenting special music in the churches and schools and a donation of records to the elementary school to build music appreciate and aid students in preparing for the state wide Music Memory contest. 

In later years they established a music scholarship fund and sponsored local students at Brevard Music Camp and Brevard College.

The inspiration for the Brevard Music Lovers’ Club, which existed for at least 60 years, came from Mrs. Louise Simons.  Mrs. Simons was a noted musician and music teacher from New York who lived in Brevard for many years.  She was an honorary member of the club.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs. For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.