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Thoma, Harry C. (ed.) / Wisconsin alumnus
Volume 38, Number IX (June 1937)
Kessenich, Henrietta
Who said women were timid souls?, pp. 342-343
Page 342
Who1 Said Womeni Were Tmid S"Ils? Here are two alumnae who have proved that OOW sad our professors must be to see how dis- women do not lack courage and initiative I[J[ mally some of us fail to .1 carry on in our once chosen fields. Sylvia Mey- er, '29, for instance dedicated herself to geology from solo harpist of the National Symphony Orchestra of the day she took Professor Twenhofel's course in Washington, and she has occupied this position ever Geology I in her sophomore year, and Dr. Bascom, of since. In 1935 she was featured as soloist at one of whom we wrote in the February Alumnus, once the Symphony's concerts and the following year at promised a brilliant career as an authority on the one of the outdoor summer concerts on the banks of Classics. It is Dr. Bascom who turns out to be inter- the Potomac. nationally renowned as the foremost woman geolo- The National Symphony Orchestra, composed of gist of the day, and Miss Meyer becomes first harpist seventy-nine men plus Sylvia Meyer, has absorbed of the National Symphony Orchestra.* most of her time for the past four seasons, and she But Miss Meyer's Science Hall sojourn, it seems, finds it thrilling to be a part of a great ensemble, play- was something in the nature of a temporary escape. ing great music. During the winter season the rou- After studying harp since the age of seven at Holy tine work of practicing orchestra parts takes nearly all Cross Academy, Washington, D. C., she knew of her time, but when summer comes she devotes most definitely that she didn't want to major in music. "I of the vacation to the work on her material for solo don't know why I ever studied geology," she says, recital programs. "for I certainly never had any intention of becoming a geologist. I had always planned to go to the Uni- THE Symphony tours (three or four per season, versity and I had to choose something. The course about ten days each) are very strenuous, "but lots of really has been a help to me. In most of the classes fun," according to Miss Meyer. "Of the seventy-nine I was the only girl, and that situation prepared me a men, all of whom are very nice to me," she says, little for being the only woman in an orchestra of "only twenty or so are what might be called 'average men. At the present time, my geology consists of a Americans.' " The personnel list reads like an Ellis corresponding acquaintance with a few scattered geol- Island line-up, but we all get along fine together. It's ogists. One night in Winston-Salem, N. C., I was a young crowd-I'd say that most of us are between surprised to see one of my Geology I classmates at our twenty and thirty years of age. On the trips the boys concert. He was fully as surprised as I." go in for a lot of crazy, practical joking, and though From the University, Miss Meyer went to the Pea- it's hard traveling, there's certainly never a dull mo- body Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, received ment with the National Symphony." a Teacher's Certificate in Harp in 1933, and the next Miss Meyer is as athletic as she is musical and has year received an Artist Diploma in Harp, the only always loved the outdoors. Her summers were spent Peabody Diploma-which is the on the Meyer farm in Douglas highest honor conferred by the County, Wisconsin, near Brule, Conservatory - ever awarded a and there she played with her two harpist. Her most important harp brothers and their friends, growing study, however, has been withe up very much a tomboy in spite of Carlos Salzedo in Camden, Maine, I " the harp. She had no formal "g the summer harp capital of the schooling until she entered West- United States," where the world emn High School in Washington, famous harpist and composer is D. C., and then shegraduated in tutor. She played with the Balti- more( Symphony Orchestra gfor infor athleticsof all typesandshe three selliams)abons,and in Octoholds the girl'shighjump record 1933 was appointed by Conductor for the District of Columbia. Hans Kindler to the post of first At Wisconsin she was a member cm(Shades of Science Hall! Didn't we of t he as ams in spend four years in the geology depart- hockey, basketball and track, pres- ment worrying over tetminal moraines ident of the Women's Athletic As- and rock formations! We put our knowl- sociation, and a final emblem wear- edge to use that first year of martied life, "~" er. She was president of Clef for those wete the days when we classified our biscuits, pies, and cakes in their ptopet Club, a member of Crucible, Dol- category of lead, granite, and marble. But phin Club, Castalia, Mortar Board, now tha-t is all as prehistoric as Lake and of Kappa Delta, Mu Phi Ep- Agassiz itself. Just ask us, Professors, (paging Vernon Finch, Ernest Bean and silon, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Frank Williams) about achieving a tri- Kappa, and she was soloist with umph i'n a devil's food cake or a lemon the Concert Band. At the close of pie. We guarantee them to disappear ashesniryasewsaaddte completely as the ancient Laurentian gla- Sylvia Meyerhesniryasewsaaddte cier-and with much greater speed.) The harp finally won out Edna Kernigood Glickman prize 342
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