Betty Glover tribute concert

Resources about Mrs. Glover
She was born in Hudson, IL on January 24, 1923. The family moved to Mechanicsburg, east of Springfield where she attended junior and senior high school and commuted to Springfileld for music lessons. Piano, voice, and euphonium were her strong suits. The trombone was low on her interest list until college, when she transfered to UC to study with Ernest Glover. When the bass trombonist with the CSO became ill, Betty stepped in to sub, and contined until her retirement in 1985. She taught at the UC College-Conservatory and led the Brass Choir until retirement in 1992.

Several people have helped me gather and share pictures and memories of their association with Ms. Glover. If you have anything that you would like included in this collection, please email me.
Send email

Post article 9/6/1973 "The Working Woman:CSO TROMBONIST"
Ohio Music Educators Journal 1979 "Getting Down to Brass Facts: A Roundtable"
ITA Journal Archives (members), Volume XIV Number 2, spring 1986.
UC Horizons April 1986 "The Brass Class of Betty Glover"
Enquirer article 7/7/1987 "100 Year-old tradition to fall"
CCM Brass Choir at St. Mary's Bassilica, Mark Shaffer, organist, 1989 (YouTube)
Enquirer article 5/1/1992 "Retiring Trombonist hit new notes for women"
Biographical portrait, by Nathan Siler
Excerpt about Brass Choir under Mrs. Glover from 2012 Doctoral Dissertation by Nathan Siler, DMA
Dissertation: "Betty Glover: Trombone Pioneer" by Jared Gilbert
2021 Dean's Medal announcement "CCM Dean's Medal Awardee Betty Glover is a trailblazer for women in music"
2020-21 Convocation Program Mention of Alumni Award Winners
CSO Facebook post about Betty Glover posted March 14, 2022
Musician's Local #1 - Overtones Winter, 2022
Betty Lee Fantasia Brillante-Solo part treble clef
Betty Lee Fantasia Brillante-Piano part

Quotes of note:
I finally met Ms. Glover at an ITF after she had retired. She was presenting a master class on trombone players doubling on euphonium. After the master class we got to chat a little and then I asked her why she retired. Her answer was very simple. "I got tired of practicing all the time." She was an inspiration to many of us, even though we didn't have an opportunity to study with her. All you had to do was "listen."
--Linda Landis, Lead Trombone Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Columbus Symphony

Personally, my memories of brass rep class with Betty stand out as the most important training I had at CCM to proceed toward an orchestra life. Now, some 50 years later, in reflecting, it could not have been more useful. Great course!
-- Ron Barron, principal trombone Boston Symphony, retired

I've had several recent conversations with Betty and she sounds terrific. Always a day-brightener to chat with her.
-- Rosemary Waller, violinist, Cincinnati Symphony

"I met Betty Glover after a performance of an opera at the zoo. I refer to the encounter as melodious and odiferous."
--Harold Dimond

For her retirement from the symphony, her students got together and purchased a Bouvier puppy she named Josqui. It was as though all her difficult students were rolled into one dog. He was a handful to say the least. I remember Betty sitting on his leash and firmly saying "NO" when he got too rambunctious. At one of my lessons, I noticed Betty had a black eye. When I asked what happened, she told me she was coming up the basement stairs from doing laundry while Jeuqui decided to come down. He jumped right in her face and knocked her over. Though I was concerned for her safety, I was also a bit amused at this dog's silly antics and wondered if this had been such a good retirement gift after all.
--Colleen Lee, student of Betty Glover

In my earlier years at the conservatory I was called upon to sub in the brass choir. I was not very comfortable with alto clef, and one peice intimidated me. Betty stopped the group and said "I don't have a reputation for having timid trombone players in my groups, NOW BLOW!!"
--John Matre, Deer Park music teacher

Betty changed my life. She gave me lessons for free for years because my mother was recently widowed and she didn't have the money to pay for my training. She gave me an early start in her Brass choir at CCM, and this edge stayed with me for the rest of my career. It put me ahead of the game, along with the assistance and teaching from both Tony Chipurn and from Sam Green. They had as a group the most experience I could have hoped for. Betty was the first to roll the dice and I can never forget that.
--Tom Klaber, retired Bass Trombonist, Cleveland Orchestra

I was at CCM from 76 to 82 and enjoyed playing in brass choir. In those days it was always a rough Monday afternoon in a big band rehearsal with Frank Brown followed by brass choir with Betty Glover.
--Larry Daniels, freelance trumpet, Cincinnati