WESTMINSTER CHOIR

 The famed Westminster Choir is celebrating its 31st season as a concert ensemble of forty voices plus strings. Since its intitial tour in 1921, the Choir has toured throughout America, Cuba and Canada, and has made two tours of England and Europe - including Russia. It has made over 125 orchestral appearances, in the last 13 years with major Symphony Orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic Symphany, the Philidelphia Orchestra, and NBC Symphony. The Choir sang in the film "Hymn of the Nations" under the direction of Arturo Toscanini. They have been recorded for Columbia Records and RCA-Victor.

The Westminster Choir was first organized to serve as the volunteer choir of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Dayton, Ohio. Though the choir retains the name it had in its affilliation with this church, it is no longer a church choir, but the touring unit of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. Dr. John Finley Williamson, founder and director of the choir, is also founder and president of the Westminster Choir College.

JOHN FINLEY WILLIAMSON, founder and conductor of the Westminster Choir is an American of English parentage and a product of American education. Born in Canton, Ohio, he showed talent for singing at an early age. Later when his voice developed into a baritone of excellent quality, he decided on a career in music. Majoring in music, he attended Otterbein College and was awarded honorary degrees from Otterbein College and Wooster University. Later Dr. Williamson turned to choral conducting, taking charge of a small choir in Dayton, Ohio. The choir showed such marked improvement under his direction that professional concert managers became interested and the choir went on tour. In 1932 the westminster Choir moved to its present home, Princeton, New Jersey. It is one of the finest choir schools in the country and the choir continues to win critical praise.

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