A TALENT FOR MUSIC, A LIFETIME OF DEDICATION TO TEACHING

by Amber Campbell

On July 24, 1996, Mr. Virgil Rosenberger received ASIA's  "Lifetime Achievement Award."  Mr. Rosenberger has spent his life measuring his years in terms of teaching and encouraging literally hundreds of young Colorado musicians.

Born March 2, 1904, (at the time of this article) is probably the oldest living graduate (1933) from the University of Colorado's School of Music.  After receiving his Bachelor's degree, he spent two years at Interlochen, MI (1934) and worked for the Carl Fischer Co. in the editing and music reproduction department in 1936.  Anecdotally, while with the Carl Fischer Co., he was asked to meet Rachmaninoff at the train station and escort him to a hotel.  Mr. Rosenberger also attended George Gershwin's funeral.  After New York City, several years were spent teaching band and orchestra in Idaho Springs, CO.  In 1948, he earned a master's degree in oboe performance from Northwestern University.

From 1949 to 1969, he taught orchestra in District 50 in Westminster, CO.  His endeavors and dedication to the elementary school orchestral program were substantial.  His efforts along with others like him are a significant part of why Colorado today has a school orchestral program.  In September of each year, Mr. Rosenberger administered simple musicality tests to the entire 4th grade of District 50.  Children with a good ear, etc. were invited to enroll.

Armed with 12   half-sized and quarter-sized school owned violins, his humble battle to build a lasting orchestral program was started.  He and his violins went twice weekly to each school in District 50.  His philosophy was to "create enthusiasm and discern adeptness.  Soon Johnny/Susy's playing stands out and you suggest the student needs his/her own instrument.  By Christmas, they each have a shiny new instrument, a lot of enthusiasm and you have five more months to teach and enjoy the 4th graders and thus ensure a future for orchestra".

As a charter member of the National School Orchestra Association, Mr. Rosenberger and his contemporaries fought  a major battle to gain tax supported dollars for the school orchestra programs.  At the time, choral music programs had gained a foothold on those dollars with the motto: "Music for all", band programs were helped through athletics and school orchestral programs were fighting a century old prevailing attitude that 'the only way to learn strings is the private pupil method'.  Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Rosenberger and others like hime, the success of the school orchestra has over-ridden that attitude.  As stated by Mr. Rosenberger: "Many talented, professional musicians received their start in the school orchestra program and thousands of others continue to enjoy orchestral music and participate in an amateur capacity......and, it's my conviction that school orchestras have earned their part of the general support tax dollars, are here to stay, so work at it and keep it that way."

Mr. Rosenberger, during his twenty years in the Westminster Schools, was the director of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (1963) which performed at the Aspen Music Festival.  In May of 1969, he had to take a mandatory retirement.  However, the success of his elementary school orchestral program is evidenced by a photograph of the Elementary Honor Orchestra of Adams County, Westminster, CO.  The orchestra consisted of 104 5th & 6th graders (pictured) and 122 4th graders from sixteen first year string classes (off stage).

In addition to Mr. Rosenberger's outstanding performance in the classroom, he taught violin and other instruments privately for sixty years.  Many of his former students today are professional musicians and others continue his tradition of excellence in teaching orchestra at levels ranging from elementary to university.

*****My thanks to Amber Campbell for her contribution.******