Scrapbooks Pay Tribute to 'Music Man of
JHU'

Three scrapbooks capturing the
nearly 50 years during which 'Gebby' Gebelein made his
musical mark on JHU have been donated to the Sheridan
Libraries.
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By Greg Rienzi The Gazette
Conrad "Gebby" Gebelein, the "Music Man of JHU,"
directed the university's instrumental musical programs for
nearly 50 years, during which time he became nothing short
of a Johns Hopkins icon. Lacrosse fans, in particular, will
recall Gebelein leading the Homewood faithful on in fight
songs and, in the face of an "unfair" officiating call
against the Blue Jays, sometimes launching himself onto the
field where he would good-naturedly wave his baton in the
referee's face.
The beloved late music director is the subject of a
three-volume scrapbook recently donated to the
Sheridan
Libraries' Special Collections Department.
The volumes contain a wealth of newspaper articles,
photographs, concert programs, letters and other items
concerning Gebelein, donated and arranged by Lenore Fine,
an alumna and his longtime friend, with the assistance of
Gina Lacy Wilt.
Gebelein founded the Johns Hopkins Band in 1921 and
led the group until his retirement in 1971, when he was
named conductor emeritus by then president Milton S.
Eisenhower. He remained an active part of the band past
retirement, conducting at many lacrosse games until his
death in 1981. He also led the glee club and the Officers
Training Corps Band, and conducted classical music concerts
at Homewood's Shriver Hall.
The Bavarian-born Gebelein moved to the United States
in his early teens. He first found work playing in local
dance hall bands and would later enroll in the Peabody
Conservatory to further his musical training.
Among his other duties, he composed such JHU athletic
event staples as "March," "JHU," "Goucher Girls" and
"Homewood."
A zealous fan of the university's lacrosse teams,
Gebelein would often put his stamp on the games, including
striking up the band for "Ach du Lieber, Augustine"
whenever a Hopkins team reached 20 goals in a game. In
1967, the concrete grandstand on the south side of Homewood
Field was named for him.
To set up an appointment to view the Gebelein
scrapbooks, call 410-516-8348.
GO TO MAY 2,
2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
GO TO THE GAZETTE
FRONT PAGE.
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