Biography of Clarence Sawhill

CHAPTER II – Bethany College

Roy Underwood strongly influenced Sawhill’s decision to attend Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas where Underwood had graduated in 1917. Sawhill chose to attend Bethany College because, “it was the finest music school in Kansas."

From the beginning, music was important at Bethany. During the first year of the college, a rendition of Handel' s "Messiah" was presented on March 28, 1882, a tradition that carries until modern days and also set the tone for musical performance at the newly founded college.

The faculty, although aging when Sawhill was a student, had been either trained in European conservatories or at Bethany. Sawhill relates that they maintained a standard of musical excellence unusual for the era. The backbone of the department was its vocal and piano areas, but fine teachers of instrumental music enabled Bethany to maintain outstanding bands and orchestras. Clarence Sawhill began his musical studies at Bethany College in the fall of 1925.

He was a voice major, studying privately with Luther D. Mott. Sawhill sang bass in the college choir and in the men's glee club. Mott became a close personal friend of Sawhill's and visited the Sawhill's home in Holton on a variety of occasions.

Sawhill also studied trombone and baritone horn with Hjalmar Wetterstrom, who began teaching at Bethany in 1903, and remained on the faculty for forty-seven years. Wetterstrom also conducted the band and the two orchestras at Bethany. Sawhill played trombone in the first orchestra, violin in the second orchestra, and baritone in the band.

Sawhill was very active in all aspects of campus life and was a popular student. In 1925, he and a group of students helped form what has become a famous campus group, "The Blue Dozen." This quote also appeared in the Bethany Daisy Annual of 1928:

“The ‘Blue Dozen’, the best pep band in Kansas Conference, lends pep and enthusiasm to the football games and mass meetings. Their untiring enthusiasm at the athletic events was a big factor in the many Swede victories.”

Sawhill was also very active in dramatics at Bethany. Annie Theo Swenson, daughter of Bethany's first president, was a tremendous teacher of English and drama, and presented many fine performances during Sawhill's years at Bethany. Sawhill played the lead in the "Show Off," "The Stranger," and several Shakespearean roles. Sawhill enjoyed the dramatic performances and states that he has always exhibited an interest in this medium.

He also states that acting offers practice in the use of gestures that a conductor must exhibit on the podium. He tries to display the sense of an actor when he conducts.

Sawhill in the 1928 Bethany College Annual

During his junior year, Sawhill met Marie French, a music major from Pawnee Rock, Kansas. Marie French was a very attractive, petite girl, who, like Sawhill was also very active in all facets of campus life. She was a fine pianist and soon began accompanying Sawhill on all his vocal and instrumental solos. Because of their common interests, their relationship thrived. Sawhill graduated from Bethany in 1929, and after one year of teaching married Marie French on August 30, 1930.

Marie Sawhill became very important to Sawhill's career. Her enthusiasm and musical abilities helped in his years of conducting and teaching. She was well respected and loved by all that knew her and many friends spoke often of her as the "other Sawhill. "

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