FSCW Recitals and Performances (Group E)
The Auditorium
The FSCW auditorium, or now Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, was originally built in 1911 and was used as the main auditorium until 1951 when the foundation had developed a settling crack and it was rebuilt in 1954 (“Ruby Diamond concert hall”). The auditorium was named after a generous benefactor to the Florida State College of Women. Her name was Ruby Diamond and she was actually born in Tallahassee and was one of the thirteen members of the graduating class in 1905. The original auditorium as seen in the image above is quite outdated, and like most other buildings at FSU has been renovated and changed in many ways over the years.
FSCW Recitals
There is a large importance of musical recitals for educational purposes. In the 20's there was somewhat of a divide between educational musical performances in schools and the more primal musical performances. "Even though the emphasis in concert music remained on the eudcated, controlled, written and arranged, rather than the improvised, jazz was still seen as a way of accessing the primitive and emotinal in the mechanical age" (Currell 92). Though FSCW seemed to take music on a more srious note and had many well performed recitals and compisitions in which were very successful.
Etta Robertson and Native American Culture at FSCW
Etta Robertson as seen in the image above is wearing a Native American outfit for a performance at FSCW. Native American culture is very important to the background of the school, in particular Osceola and Renegade. Native American symbols are very significant to FSCW’s history and culture. Florida State Seminoles are the symbol of the Seminole tribe in Florida. Instead of saying that FSCW has a mascot they state that they have a symbol that they respect being that the Seminole people have suffered many hardships in history but they have remained dignified and proud and remain unconquered, therefore we try and symbolize this and hold all of those same qualities here at FSU today (University Communications). Many recitals and plays that have taken place at the college from its start represent Native American history and many of our concerts include Native American music in them as a tribute to the culture in which we strive to have the morale of.
Rose Nasrallah and Ella Scoble Opperman
Rose Nasrallah (pictured on the left) was a piano student of Ella Scoble Opperman (pictured on the right). This photo was taken May 19, 1925. Ella Scoble Opperman although not pictured here was the first director of the School of Music at the Florida State College for Women in 1911, as well as its first dean until she retired in 1944 (“College of Music”). She was a pianist and organist who also did vocal coaching. She was very accomplished and started courses that helped lead to creating the first degree programs at the School of Music, as well as requesting to expand languages such as Italian to better help her music students. “Under her leadership, the FSCW School of Music became the first state school in the South to be accepted into the National Association of Schools of Music in 1930” (“College of Music”). She also served as the chair of the university committee looking over many things such as artist series, art exhibitions, and lectures as well. She was extremely active in organizations and is well known in the College of Music.
Works CIted:
Currell, Susan. American Culture in the 1920s. Edinburgh University Press, 2009. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=272083&site=eds-live&scope=site.
“Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.” Opening Nights at Florida State University, openingnights.fsu.edu/venues/ruby-diamond-concert-hall/.
University Communications. “Relationship with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.” Frequently Asked Questions | Relationship with the Seminole Tribe of Florida | Messages | University Communications, unicomm.fsu.edu/messages/relationship-seminole-tribe-florida/faqs/.