Our History

New Orleans had one club federated with the national organization by 1910. By 1919 Louisiana had 5 federated clubs and before state organization, 2 more were added for a total of 7 clubs.

• 1928 - LFMC organized on April 16th, in Baton Rouge, LA. 

• Mrs. W. Carruth Jones was elected President.

First Decade: 1928 - 1938

         2nd president (1932-36) Louise Hullum - Monroe

         3rd president (1936-38) Mrs. R.E.Brumby - Franklin

 Scholarships were established

• Extension was the main priority

• State Bulletin begun

• National Banner won by LA

• 1932 NFMC Fall Board Meeting held in New Orleans

• Jones elected to membership on NFMC Board

Second Decade: 1938 – 1948

        4th president (1938-40) Louisa Hullum, Monroe

        5th president (1940-44) Marie Lewis Beene, Shreveport

        6th president (1944-48) Mrs. Malcom S. Dougherty - Jackson

• 83 new clubs added to the stat roster

• During the WWII years, LFMC placed over 3,000 instruments on ships, and thousands of sheet music copies and records in army camps.

• A new phase of “Music in Hospitals” begun. 100s Programs given in Hospitals and Red Cross Centers.

• Scholarships increased to 8 in 3 colleges

• State composition contest inaugurated

• “Rural Music” emphasized by federating rural choruses

Third Decade: 1948 -1960

        7th president (1948-52) Mrs. John P. Kelley - Alexandria

        8th president (1952-56) Ruby Simmons Vought – Baton Rouge

        9th President (1956-60) Leslie D. Fain - Alexandria

• Louisiana received Scroll of Merit and Cash Award for extension at the National Biennial held in Dallas, TX Matinee choral group performed.

• Louisiana was cited for its history updated and published in a special folder. Also given Honorable Mention for outstanding programs in contemporary American Music at Salt Lake City Biennial.

• During 52-56 administration, LA increased participation in student and young artist programs.  Established scholarship to Transylvania Music Camp. Saw a marked growth in Grass Roots Opera Projects and workshops.

• 1st Place in the Junior Photo Contest won by Napoleonville Mozart Music Club- entry used on Jr. Keynotes cover.

• 1st all string and all dance groups in LFMC

• 1st State Festival of Strings originated

• 1st monthly Newsletter sent out

• LA won 1st Place in attendance and Outstanding Achievement in “Crusade for Strings” at the Columbus, OH Biennial in 1957. Growth in Clubs: 26 Sr, 11 Assoc, 17 Student, and 96 Junior.

4th Decade: 1960 -1970

        10th president (1960-62) William Gillock - New Orleans

        11th president (1962-64) Mrs. W. U. Moss – Baton Rouge

        12th president (1964-66) Mrs. Malcolm Downs - Pineville

        13th president (1966-70) Edith Kilgore Kirkpatrick - Baton Rouge

• LA received an award for the most federated Junior Clubs and Festivals as well as the most Strings Festivals in the nation at the Kansas City Biennial.

• 13 students received declared winners in the NFMC Essay Contest.

• Only federated Music Club in the World located in a Leprosarium (in Carville).

• LA received top award for Publicity in the 1965 Miami Beach Biennial.

• LA had 2 National winners in the Student Auditions.

• Jr Extension won top award with 30 new clubs and became 1st in the Nation for Jr Festivals

• Young Artist presented in concert, Award of Merit for Crusade for Strings

• April 1967, at the New York Biennial, Baton Rouge Choral Sextette “The Musettes” sang “A Joyful Litany” by Gena Branscombe, composed especially for the national convention. The performance resulted in a WYNC broadcast on September 9, 1967.

• At the 1968 LFMC Convention in Shreveport, the entire cast of the New York City Opera performed.

• At the 1969 LFMC convention in New Orleans, Jane and James Bastien presented a workshop, and LA won 22 National Music Week Awards.

5th Decade: 1970 – 1982

        14th president (1970-72) Carol March - Alexandria

        15th president (1972-74) Esther Sokolofsky – Baton Rouge

        16th president (1974-76) Ruth Seale - New Orleans

        17th president (1976-78) Charlotte Davis Parrott - Alexandria

        18th president (1978-82) Bob Buckner - Shreveport

• 1971 - New Orleans hosted the NFMC Biennial Convention in New Orleans. Honored guest, Mrs. Maurice Honigman and a special presentation of “Music Therapy and its Function to People”.

• Junior convention incorporated into the state Senior convention, making it a special Junior Day.

• Folk music was emphasized

• 1978 – LFMC 50th Anniversary celebrated in Baton Rouge

• Phoebe Dalton, cellist, of Baton Rouge was winner of the National Stillman Kelly Auditions.

6th Decade: 1982-1990

        19th president (1982-86) Eloise Stanhope - Monroe

        20th president (1986-90) James Hudson - Jennings

• Metairie District became the 8th LFMC District

• New scholarship established by Edith Kilgore Kirkpatrick

• Life membership increased and 2 new Sr Clubs organized.

• Stephen Rose of Natchitoches won Stillman Kelly Auditions, LA’s 2nd consecutive winner.

• New Awards added: Houssiere Ballet and Past Presidents State College Awards (PPSCA).

• Hubert Ho, pianist of Baton Rouge won 1990 Stillman Kelly Auditions, 3rd consecutive from LA.

7th Decade: 1990-2000

        21st president (1990-1992) Kay Hawthorne - Baton Rouge

        22nd president (1992-1994) Pam Gregoire - Donaldsonville

        23rd president (1994-1998) Tommie Rowe - Haynesville

        24th president (1998-2000) Melanie Perez - Metairie

• Began the Revision of LFMC By-Laws, Standing Rules, and Appendix

• All LFMC Scholarship information now included in the LFMC Bulletin.

• Represented LA in two NFMC Meetings (Huntsville and Chicago), and celebrated the

      100th Anniversary of NFMC.

• LFMC Website created and Promotional LFMC Brochure distributed.

• “Noteworthy News” newsletter started.

• Junior Counselors Newsletter sent to all teachers twice a year.

• Festival Records were computerized.

• Inaugural year for the Past President’s Scholarship Awards

• 41 NFMC Awards of Merit were received.

• Secured Honored Guest NFMC 1st Vice President Ouida Keck and George Keck, and NFMC Junior Counselor Angie Greer at LFMC Conventions.

8th Decade: 2000-2012

        25th president (2000-2004) Jeanne Veron - Donaldsonville

        26th president (2004-2006) Dottie Smith - Prairieville

        27th president (2006-2008) Ruth Smith - Monroe

        28th president (2008-2012) Irene Vile - Metairie

• LFMC Records were computerized.

• LFMC Bylaws were revised

• Tax-Exempt status was achieved

• Inauguration of the Charlotte Davis Parrott Religious Education Award and the Virginia Houssiere Ballet Scholarship

• LFMC hosted 2001 Southeastern Region Brevard Weekend

• 75th LFMC Anniversary celebrated by a Gala Convention in Natchitoches with Past Presidents as honored guests.

• 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastated members of the New Orleans and Metairie Music Clubs.

• 8 LFMC Districts replaced by 5 LFMC Regions.

• LFMC Website begun containing forms and information for all awards and festival.

• Matthew Witherow won National Lucile Parrish Ward Award for Veterans.

9th Decade: 2012-2020

        29th president (2012-2014) Joy Harvey - Mandeville

        30th president (2014-2016) Ken Nelson - Baton Rouge

        31st president (2016-2020) Gwen Redding - Baton Rouge

10th Decade: 2020-

        32nd president (2020-2024) LaDonna Alexander - Thibodeaux

        33rd president (2024 -        ) Margarita Harvey - New Orleans

• Imani Francis, NFMC Martha Marcks Mack Sr. Vocal Award Recipient.

• Secured Honored Guest NFMC President Deborah Freeman for 2025 Convention.