The Columbia evening Missourian., 1922-04-29
Musician and Composer Retires
After Teaching Nearly so Years

In every institution there are persons
who have been 50 intimately connected
with it in willing and conscientiour serv-
ice and with its progress. that the p lace
they leave when that service Is ended can
not be HE'D With a like personality. But
William II. Pommer. musician. composer,
teacher. who will retire from active duty
: at the University of Missouri in October
of this year will not consider his ser
vices ended. He will continue to live in
and be an Interested citizen of Columbia
where for fifteen wears he has taught The
youth Of Missouri to create. keep and
enjoy concordant beauty.
! Professor Pommrr was born March D.
! 1851. in St. Louis. St. Louis was his home
: until he located permanently in Colum-
bia fifteen years ago. He attended the
public schools of that city and was grad
uaicd from high school in 1868. In 1913
! his high school celebrated lis fiftieth an
niyersary. Professor Pommtr Was invited
| to attend the celebration and in recog
! milton Of his fame H. musician and the
/ honor that he. as an alumnus. brought
his Alma Mater it presented him with
second diploma. In the graduating class
I OF '68 were also Charles Nagel. Secretary
of Commerce under President William II.
! Taft. and Dr. Washington Fischel an
eminent, physician of II. Louis.
In his Youth Professor Pommer studied
piano with the be>, teachers ST. Louis al
forded. Bodt and Snbolewski. In 1872 he
went abroad To stud, and for three years
he had the privilege of learning from the
great anasier>. lie was at the ROYAL Con
stTyatory of music in ieipSis. Germany.
Two years and one wear at the Imperial
Conservatory in Vienna.
In those days there were no degrees in
music given and no prescribed courses of
study. Siudeat> came 10 the masters a.
individual pupils and studied a. long a.
ihcy could or cared 10. Besides piano he
studied organ. VOICE. composition and
counterpoint. He was associated with
the most eminent European teachers in
Guiding Rcinicke and Paul, piano. of
Leip-i.: Rokitan>ki. voice. of Nirnna:
and Anton Bruckncr. organ and counler-
pc.nt. Of Vienna.
In 1875 he returned to 81 Louis where
he became an orsani>t and teacher. In
artistic circles he met number oi Young
artists vino organized art clubs. ndcr
their influence he became particularly in
terts,ed in the creative phase Of art and
began To try his hand at musical compo-
siii"n. 1t was in this period that the
famous Il. Louis Artists Guild was
formed. based on the creative powers of !
it, members and including all fine arts.
From l883-87 Professor Pommer was
director of music in Christian COLLEGE
Columbia. which was then only i nucleus
of the present junior college In Octo- .
Der 1888 he was married to Miss Stella I
Smith Of St. Louis In 1889 and 1890 he !
vas director of the Arion Club of Nil
waukee, an organization promoting musi-
cal interests in Milwaukee. particularly
chorus and concert work among its MEM /
bers. For six wears he was supervisor |!
Of music in several oi the St. Louis :
churches and, during the same time. ST. !
pcrvi>or ai mus:c in the city public .
schools +!
In 1907 he began his work at the Uni /,
versiiy "i Missouri and he has continued /.
it for fifteen wears along four general :
lines: First. he has taught public school
music and its peda gogy; second. he has
offered courses in harmony and cnunier- ;
point for advanced students: third. he .