WARREN M. ANGELL
Warren M. Angell founded the Bison Glee Club in 1938. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on May 13, 1907, Warren Angell graduated from Ilion, N.Y., High School, and received both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in piano and composition from Syracuse University, in Syracuse, N.Y. He earned a Doctor of Education degree from Columbia University Teachers College in 1944. He has spent four summers studying in Europe and has done summer study at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, N.Y.
Dr. Angell taught piano and theory at Murray State Teachers College, Murray, KY., as head of the piano department from 1934-36. He came to Oklahoma Baptist University as Dean of the College of Fine Arts and bringing high standards of scholarship and musicianship to OBU, the board of trustees named the college the "Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts" in 1956. He has won wide acclaim as a choral director and is in demand in 16 states for festivals and clinics. He has perfected choral techniques in the OBU Bison Glee Club, which has won national prominence, making seven commercial records, appearing in 1965 on the Great Choirs of America Voice of Christmas Series over NBC and other television and radio programs.
From 1942 to 1944, Dr. Angell sang top tenor in Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians, and the Robert Shaw Chorale while he was working on his doctoral program at Columbia University Teachers College.
He has written five books on vocal and choral techniques, published by Convention Press, Nashville, Tenn. He has more than 53 published compositions in the choral field and four published piano numbers. There are many more choral arrangements published, particularly of hymn tunes, as well as unpublished vocal and instrumental compositions. As well as published music, Dr. Angell has made several commercial recordings of his piano wizardry. Those who hear them immediately recognize the "Angell Sound."
His honors include Who's Who in America, Who's Who Among Deans and Presidents of American Colleges , Who's Who in Music, Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, International Directory of Music and Musicians, Directory of American Scholars, and Directory of Outstanding Americans. He is a Fellow of National Association of Teachers of Singing, former trustee of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY., and recipient of the 1967, 1968, and 1969 Awards of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Dr. Angell holds membership in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Lions International, Elks Lodge, Music Educators National Conference, National Association of Teachers of Singing, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, is a charter member of American Choral Directors Association , is on the advisory Board of Who's Who in America, and on the Southern Baptist Hymnal Committee for the Baptist Hymnal.
The City of Shawnee presented him with a citation for his contribution to the University and to Shawnee, proclaiming Warren Angell Day in his honor. The Shawnee Fine Arts Club recognized him with a complete program of his own compositions, and a program was given by outstanding former students on the occasion of his 30th anniversary as Dean of the College of Fine Arts at OBU. He received the Distinguished Service Citation by the University, a plaque from Lions International for distinguished service, and shared a special edition of the Shawnee News-Star with Dr. Grady C. Cothen, OBU President at the time. Choir directors of Oklahoma Baptist churches cited him for his contributions to church music.
