HISTORY OF THE GWMC
On September 30, 2004, a meeting was called by Mrs. Jon (Ann) Guest and Deborah T. Freeman to form a new senior music club in the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC). Deborah Freeman suggested the name, Greenville Woman’s Music Club (GWMC), and Ann Guest was named the first President. GWMC was Federated in October 2004.
A major focus of the Club has always been to promote great music in the community and beyond, and to sponsor Junior Music Clubs. Scholarships are of utmost importance to the club, and fundraising efforts for these scholarships have included Soup Samplers, Holiday Bake sales, Craft Fairs, and Spring Luncheons. Many thousands of dollars have been awarded to deserving students following GWMC Annual Scholarship Auditions. GWMC junior clubs continue to thrive, with an excess of 200 members.
GWMC member Ann Guest became South Carolina Federation of Music Clubs (SCFMC) President in 2015, and Sara Kellar was elected President of SCFMC in 2017. In 2019, Deborah Freeman was elected First Vice President of the NFMC, and is to assume the NFMC Presidency in the future – a tremendous honor for GWMC! At the time of this writing, several other GWMC members serve as NFMC chairs: Elizabeth Guest Martin - SE Region Music in Schools and Colleges; Ann Guest - NFMC Orientation and Leadership; Sara Kellar - SCFMC Representative to NFMC Board, Martha Marks Mack Senior Voice Award, Protocol Committee, SER Advisory Council; and Joanie Pegram - NFMC Junior Composers.
Many of our GWMC members hold SCFMC Chairs as well: Stephanie Davis - Music in Schools and Colleges; Deborah Freeman - NW District I Director, Festival Finance, Media, American Music, LF Olson Award; Ann Guest - Historian; Elizabeth Guest Martin - Angie Greer Poetry, Summer scholarships; Sara Kellar - Orientation, Finance; Joanie Pegram - SCFMC Junior Counselor , Junior Composition; and Ina Pegram - Music Therapy.
GWMC continues to successfully meet the goals of the NFMC, including American music, choral music, instrumental music, vocal music, folk music, jazz, chamber music, and strings in our monthly programming.
GWMC continues its quest with great zeal and enthusiasm to preserve our musical heritage for the generations to follow.
