historian & retired members “And crown thy good, with brotherhood,


from sea to shining sea.” Kristine McLain, WMEA State Chair, Historian & Retired Members


These words re- sounded through the State Capitol dur- ing the recent Wis- consin State Music Conference themed, “Celebrating our Past, Imagining our Future.” Directing the Madison Youth


Choir, conference attendees and Capitol guests, Eva Mae Struckmeyer, second president of WMEA, led all in a rousing rendition of “America, the Beautiful.” The Capitol Sing was one of the events held to celebrate the history of WMEA and honor its past presidents. Four former presidents, whose terms spanned four decades, led those congregated in song. What a glorious statement of the power of song to celebrate WMEA’s past, present and future!


As historian, I spent the year delving through past WSM issues researching the 50 years of WMEA. My appreciation for our early leaders initiated the idea to dedicate this year’s columns to our first presidents. I first met Eva Mae Struck- meyer at the Capitol Sing. With spirit


and confidence, she conducted. As the song ended, I thought, this is really what music is all about – crowning our good with brotherhood, sharing our beliefs and uniqueness, working together for beauty and self expression, listening to another’s voice, learning from the past to create a better future.


The following morning Eva Mae and I met for breakfast and a lively, delightful discussion. Eva Mae Struckmeyer grew up in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Lead- ing WMEA in song brought vivid, sweet memories as she recalled taking the steam train into Madison for piano lessons at the Wisconsin School for Music. From the train station near Lake Monona, she’d take a short cut through the Capitol, never imagining she’d one day conduct a song in its rotunda. As a young child, her favorite playtime activity was to line up her dolls on the sofa and teach them how to sing. She excelled in piano at UW-Madison. When it was suggested she major in piano performance, she remembered her dollies and the decision to be a music teacher was confirmed. Upon graduation, she accepted a position as the junior high school choral director in Wausau. She remained there


until 1977. As a dedicated master teacher, she was in demand to present workshops on junior high music. She was a member of the MENC Committee for Junior High Music.


Eva Mae stated that good administrators work “to make it possible for teachers to teach and students to learn.” I asked her what she did to help administrators connect with her and empower the best decision-making possible. She said it was a joint effort. If she had a concern, it was her responsibility to think about possible solutions before entering the office. Then she came to the principal with a plan. Working through the plan and helping to make it work was the duty of the admin- istrator. Her classroom was always open to administrators.


“Her classroom was always open to administrators.”


Her administrators provided many op- portunities to showcase the choral depart- ment and gain community support. With many performances for state and national music conferences and many community organizations, local merchants helped with uniforms, advertising and transportation.


Eva Mae Struckmeyer leads an audience in “America, the Beautiful” at the Capitol Sing. 58


Along with other professional music teachers of the late 1950s Eva Mae saw the need for an organization, separate from WSMA, devoted to supporting music educators. Information gathering meetings were held with educators and the WSMA Board to assist in sound decision making and the writing of WMEA’s constitution. Eva Mae was a formidable presence in these meetings and was WMEA’s first


January 2011


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