The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14
PROGRESS SHOWN
 BY CHURCH CHOIRS
(Continued from page one)

(Continued from page one)
 regular quartette for this season at this house of worship will be:
 Mrs. Mae Shackelford, Mrs. F.. B. Smith, Mrs. Leon Cole and Mrs. J. P. Mcguire.
 The double quartette choir for holi- day services will consist of Mrs. Mae Shackelford and Miss Alice Simpson, sopranoes Mrs. P. J. Smith, and Mrs. Morris Newfield. contraltos; MT. Leon Cole and MT. Leo Karpeles, passes i; Mfr J. Phil Mcguire and MT. John Me Way, tenors.
 Mrs. Gussen occupies one of the most interesting positions in the musical world of Birmingham for she is almost a Birmingham product having come here small girl as a pupil of MT. Gucken- berger, who was one of the great mas ters of Birmingham's musical history. She was later sent abroad for study by those beloved patrons of the arts, MT. and Mrs. R. s. Munger, where she finished her musical education. She later married William Gussen, whose ideals in music and whose standards of the noblest and best were never sacri- flced to the day of his passing. Mrs. Gussen lives up to the same high stand ards and both as performer and teacher, she is credit to the city of her adop- tion, to the masters who have guided her and to the friends who trusted her. She has two young daughters who are following in the footsteps of their fa- ther and mother and are becoming fac tors in the musical life of Birmingham.
 The First Christian church is making an innovation this year on all the musical precedents of the church. Their music director, l.. B. Conrad, who came here recently from great church In Dallas, Texas, and who is known as the minister of music, announces to begin with a choir of eight voices. The personnel is as follows:
 Soprano, Mrs. Ruth Peery Conrad, Miss Vera Robinson; contraltos, Mrs. A. V. Janette, Mrs. Corrie Houston {; tenors, MT. Fred N. Lewis, Mir. l.. B. Conrad; passes, Mir. A. B. Dunning, Mir. Charles Bernhard. Mrs. Charles Bernhard is organist
 The double quartet will sing at all morning services which at present are held in Phillips High school. A male quartet composed of the four male mem- bers of the choir will sing at the eve- ming services now being conducted in the Galax theater. An entire evening of music on the first Sunday night of each month is feature which Mir. Con- rad expects to introduce soon and to continue permanently when the new church is occupied. All the singers will take part in these sacred concerts and outside talent will often be added. khA n1l Mozarts "Gloria" from the 18th Mass, Rossinis "Inflammatus" from Stabet Mater, Beethoven's "Hallelujah to the Father" and Mendelsshon's T Waited tor the Lord," will be used, also com positions from such modern composers as Stainer, Dudley Buck, and Shelly. Occasionally an oratorio or cantata will be given. MT. Conrad believes in the public taste, and that he has found people in general like good music as we'll as good literature, good drama, etc. Good music does not necessarily mean old music, nor difficult music, but music which is clean and whole some, and will elevate the listener" he says.
 Mir Conrad has studied with the best teachers in the east as well as those on the Pacific coast and has had a long experience as director of professional choirs in large city churches. Mrs. Conrad is lyric soprano of delightful personality and splendid ability. Bir- mingham will be glad to add these two to her already distinguished roster of musicians.
 A church whose service has attracted national attention has been the First Baptist on Twenty-second street and Sixth avenue whose edifice is one of the prettiest in the state and whose church organization is one of the orig nal ones in Birmingham. The church made a unique name for itself last winter by organizing a radio congrega- tion which developed a membership up in the thousands. The music attracted widespread popularity, being a large chorus directed and led by Mir. J. Fred Schfield, and Mrs. Schofield, who IS the soprano of the choir.
 The First Methodist church, another one of the original religious organiza- tions has not perfected it's choir for the winter but the music at present is as always lovely. Mrs. J. D. Moore, Jr., and Mrs. R. P. McCowan, are pleasing the large congregations with their beautiful singing.
 The South Highlands Presbyterian is most fortunate in having for its or ganist-director Mrs. Minnie McNeil Carr, one of the best known musicians in Birmingham where as coach, accom- panist organist and leader she has been of equal success. Her choir this winter will consist of Mrs. R. H. Bumgartner, soprano; Mrs. K. c. Cros- ley, contralto; Lawrence Cooper, bar itone, and T. c. Crime, bass.
 The Church of the Advent as usual has one of the best choirs in the city. Their Organist and director, Mir. 0. D. Allen, is an artist and although he has
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