The Naples Music Club was organized January 29, 1965. Regular monthly programs were presented in the fall of 1966 by the 26 charter members.

In December 1966, the Music Club originated a radio program of classical music called “Concert Hall Series.” The 90-minute program of fine music with narration by Club members was broadcast four times a week over radio station WNFM.

In March 1968, the Naples Music Club joined with the Naples Art Association, the Naples Artcrafters and the Naples Players to form the first Festival of the Arts. This combined effort presented the community with a showcase of concerts, art exhibits, theatre, and workshops every year until 1977.

The Naples Music Club Scholarship Program, spearheaded by Tom Truesdale in 1970, began with one $500 award to a high school student for summer music camp at Florida State University. By 1986, three students received full scholarships for summer study. The following season, sixteen awards were given and the Scholarship Program was expanded to include students in grades 6 through 12. In 1988, a Development Committee was established to further broaden the Scholarship Fund. By 2003, a record number of contestants (98) entered the competition. Fifty-two scholarships, totaling more than $20,000, were awarded.

Several performance groups have evolved within the Club. Organized in 1979, the Piano Fortes meet monthly in members’ homes to perform among themselves or in concert.

More recently, two other piano groups have formed, the Crescendos and the Legatos, as well as a mixed performance group, the Glissandos, consisting of pianists, vocalists and various instrumentalists.

Of singular importance during the 1979-80 season was the “Save Our Strings” effort led by members of the Music Club. Concerned about the possible loss of our school system’s orchestra programs, the Club presented a convincing appeal that led to an enlargement of the string curriculum. The same threat was averted in 1993.

The 1981-1982 season marked the inception of the “Sing Along Messiah,” which became an annual event, bringing together professional and amateur musicians in our community. This holiday program continued until 1998.

In 1995, the Music Club established its first permanent endowment fund, thanks to a generous gift from Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Turiel in memory of their son, Daniel, clarinetist, composer and conductor.

Clifford L. Saby set up the Saby Scholarship Fund in December, 1997. The Turiel and Saby grants have greatly enhanced the ability of the Club to continue to provide substantial scholarship aid to music students.

In 1999, the Collier County Education Foundation selected the Naples Music Club as an Outstanding Partner in Education, recognizing the Club’s work supporting music education since 1970. This same year, the Club received a grant from the United Ats Council to help defray advertising expenses.

A $3,000 grant from the Immokalee Foundation led to the creation of the Immokalee Project, which provides supplemental music instruction to students who do not have access to private lessons. The Project’s objective is to improve the performance skills of Immokalee music students through instruction in small groups. In 1999 and 2000, the foundation’s grants were matched by the Music Club. In 2001, the Music Club expanded the project and assumed all funding.

In 2001, the Club received a gift of $25,000 from the estate of Raymond and Ruth Schultz. This donation became part of the Scholarship Fund.

Also in 2001, Clifford L. Saby donated $15,000 to the Music Club in support of the Collier County Education Foundation’s musical instrument program under the direction of Judy Evans. This gift is being used to purchase instruments for use by children enrolled in the program.

The District School Board of Collier County presented the Club with an award recognizing our continued financial support of the Collier County Choral Program and the Choral Library.

In 2002, the Music Department and the Principal of Immokalee High School presented the Music Club with an award for our outstanding support of the students in Immokalee schools. Also in 2002, the Naples Women’s Club donated $2,000 to the Immokalee Project. We also received a grant of $5,000 from the Community Foundation and a $750 grant from the United Arts Council, earmarked for publicity.

The co-chairs of the Club’s Scholarship Competition for many years, Phyllis Warren and Connie Hegarty, retired from heading up this major activity after the 2002 event. The chairmanship was passed to Gene Fort for the 2003 and 2004 competitions.

Richard Holmberg, our program chairman for several years, continues to help the Club provide the community with many fine Sunday concerts. Programs from Northwestern University and Indiana University have highlighted recent concert seasons. The Music Club gratefully acknowledges the outstanding generosity of these fine music institutions.

Gunter Manchen has provided the Club with fine pianos for many of our concerts. His contribution has added to the success of our programs.

After reviewing our Highlights, one can see that the focus of the Naples Music Club has remained constant over many years. With our members’ help, we hope to continue to promote music appreciation in the Naples area and to provide music scholarships for the youth of the community.

Written by Past President Suzanne de Clercq in 2005