Founders of CSU’s Schwob School of Music say its growth ‘has been a community endeavor’
Henry and Joyce Schwob have been involved with Columbus State University for most of their lives.
His family gave the original land that Columbus College sat on, and the Schwob School of Music and Schwob Memorial Library bears his name — although he’d never tell you these things.
Henry Schwob is a quiet and humble man whose focus is constantly on others.
The Columbus natives will likely recognize Schwob’s name due to the fact that he played a major role in the development of the community. He was on the founding board of Aflac, served on the first foundation for Columbus State University and brought the first indoor shopping mall to Columbus. He’s also served on many other boards, including First National Bank, Columbus Museum, Medical Center and Temple Israel.
What most residents of the Chattahoochee Valley do not know about him is that much of his life has been spent as a philanthropist for the arts in Columbus — most notably with the Schwob School of Music.
After decades of living and working in Columbus as a highly successful businessman, Schwob and his wife moved to Atlanta to be near their children and grandchildren. Though they have chosen to remain in Atlanta, their efforts in Columbus have been far from forgotten.
On the recent occasion of his 90th birthday, Schwob received numerous letters of thanks and well wishes from community members and Schwob School of Music alumni hoping to let him know how much his efforts have meant to them. The gesture surprised and moved him tremendously, and led to a lengthy discussion about his love for the community and the university.
The Schwobs recently sat down with arts reporter Carrie Beth Wallace to discuss their involvement with Columbus State University, their time at the Schwob School of Music, the growth they’ve witnessed during their time as arts supporters in Columbus, and how their relationship with CSU’s Schwob School of Music has enriched their lives.
Henry Schwob
Q: How did your family get involved with Columbus State University?
A: Many years ago, my family gave some acreage to the Muscogee County School Board. That land eventually became the site of Columbus State University. Of course, things have been expanded since that time. But that is what started our interest in the university.
Q: How did the land change hands between the two entities?
A: My family gave the land directly to the Muscogee County School Board, who then turned it over to the Regents.
Q: What would you say led to your participation in the development and fostering of the School of Music?
A: My wife, Joyce. Joyce was a piano major and concert pianist before we were married. She was always very interested in music and really eduated me and brought me along in the musical field. When I married her, she was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. Then, after our children came, she commuted over to Auburn University and got her bachelor’s and master’s. She taught for a while at Columbus State University’s Music Department.
Q: So your wife is what led you to a life-long love of music?
A: Oh, yes. Being a University of Georgia marketing major, I had never really attended a symphony. I never went while I was at Georgia. When I met my wife, she took me to the Philadelphia Orchestra and I heard my first symphony. I thought after the first movement, that was it. (laughing) It turned out there were two more.
It opened up a new horizon, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Q: Can you please describe your support and involvement during the development of the school?
A: Well, to the area of support, I think it is important to point out that there has always been so much enjoyment that has come out of it. To hear the music, so much enjoyment comes from it.
I also received so many well wishes on my milestone birthday. I was sent notes from students who are all over the country saying how much they appreciated the Schwob School of Music. They told me all about where it’s led them and how it’s impacted their lives. One lady wrote me that since graduating, she has had a 30-year career in education and is now retired.
So the accolades from students and faculty were just amazing. I really blew me away.
Q: That is so moving. I am thankful they reached out to you.
A: It was really moving. But getting back to the music school. You know, it really is amazing how much it’s grown beyond what we could have ever expected. The way it’s become recognized worldwide. It is really a top music school now.
It’s been a wonderful journey with the school. Just wonderful. We look forward to continuing.
Q: What is your relationship like with the school now?
A: Rex Whiddon and Scott Harris do a wonderful job of communicating with us regularly. They come to Atlanta to talk with us about things that are happening.
Q: How do you feel the school has changed? What are the biggest and best changes that you feel you have been able to see?
A: Well, just moving downtown near the Chattahoochee River to the new facilities brought a major change. The continued growth and development of the faculty has been wonderful. The recognition of the school, worldwide, has been tremendous.
Q: Have you been excited to see the growing number of international students at the Schwob School?
A: Well, it’s important to note that the school is interested in the talented and quality of their students. I am very glad that the school has high standards. The selection process administered by the faculty is what determines the makeup of the school. They are taking the talent and quality of the students into consideration first and foremost. They are determining the makeup of the student population, in terms of the distribution of foreign and American students. I think it is based on talent. I find that very encouraging.
Q: I agree. The school has done an incredible job of maintaining a focus on talent when selecting their students. It’s an interesting setup, really. Schwob School of Music has the conservatory mentality and accreditation while still being a part of a state school. Its unusual.
A: Yes.
Q: What types of relationships have you personally developed through your time with the Schwob School?
A: Well, we’ve already mentioned Rex Whiddon, but he has just done a phenomenal job in development. Really. Just a phenomenal job.
I have to say that it has been a community effort. People have come forward to help us and they have been so knowledgeable. It really has been a community endeavor.
Q: How do you feel like the school and your involvement with it has impacted your life personally?
A: Well, for me, I have gotten so much growth out of it. I have received knowledge and such appreciation of music out of the experience.
The biggest benefit has just been seeing how much has been accomplished in Columbus and the students who have graduated and left Columbus and have been able to make successful careers for themselves.
Q: OK, my very last question for you. I promise. What do you hope for the school’s future?
A: Continued growth in the department. Continued growth for Columbus State University. That they will keep up their fine standards that they have set. It is such a great educational facility. To be such a highly ranked program is really quite a blessing.
Joyce Schwob
Q: What was your involvement like in the early days of the Schwob School of Music?
A: I taught piano, music theory, keyboard and keyboard literature. I also gave concerts with Rex Whiddon, who is a wonderful supporter and developer of the music department at Columbus State.
Q: How would you describe the ways you continued to be involved throughout the Schwob School’s continued development?
A: The musical background of the city of Columbus was very important to us. We tried to be as involved as we could. I was president of the Columbus Symphony and I was president of the Columbus Women’s Association. I was also involved with the Orpheus Club.
Rex Whiddon and I did some duo piano concerts together and played with the orchestra. Being involved in the musical background of the city of Columbus was a major part of our life. My husband was always very, very supportive. We are married 60 years this year, so you know it must have worked.
This is our year of celebration. Henry just turned 90, and I turned 80, and we are 60 years married.
Q: Congratulations! What a wonderful year to celebrate!
A: Thank you.
Q: So throughout the years, you just have remained connected with the Schwob School of Music and Columbus State University?
A: Oh, yes. Henry has always been very supportive of the college and certainly of the School of Music.
Q: When you read Mr. Schwob’s birthday well wishes from students, what stood out to you most?
A: I think it was what the music school has meant to the community. He received many letters from the people of Columbus who said how much it’d meant to them to be able to walk across the street or go to a concert any night of the week. It’s revitalized downtown.
Q: How often are you able to make it down to Columbus these days?
A: Well, that is a bit of a problem. We are hoping to make it down for a few concerts this year. We have several on the calendar.
It’s been very exciting that the school has started streaming the concerts.
Q: Yes. I wondered if you had seen any.
A: Oh, yes. The streaming is wonderful.
Q: What is your favorite thing you have seen with the school’s development and growth?
A: Well, now we are seeing competitions all of the time where the students are winning first or second place in the country. We are very excited to see that happening.
Q: Are you excited to see international students in all areas of study? Do you hope to see that grow? Or are you inclined to wish more American students will study there?
A: Well, the wonderful thing that is happening is that the school is bringing international students who are staying in America and working here. Especially at the school. It’s so amazing that young people from other countries are coming to Columbus and making it their home.
Q: You have mentioned several people you have connected with through the school. Can you speak to any more relationships that your involvement with Schwob has provided to you? Faculty members or students you have kept up with?
A: We really have enjoyed getting to know many of the faculty. Sergiu Schwartz has been up here to our home with some of his students. Boris Abramov has also visited us as well.
We have had some of the students come up and play at some of our assisted-living places in the area. They have been just blown away and have gotten additional invitations to come back.
We also have a group of people that also chased children that are from Columbus such as Babette Rothchild, Elsie Arnaud, and many others that have participated.
The support of the community has been unbelievable. Someone made it a whole Steinway School a few years ago. Several people joined together to make the streaming of concerts possible. The Pezolds and the way they have given a piano endowment. The list goes on and on.
So many community people have just stepped forward and it’s been amazing. I have to agree with what my husband said: It has been a community endeavor.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add, Mrs. Schwob?
A: Henry, through his business career, touched a lot of lives in the community. I think he has had an influence. Henry was one of the first people on the foundation at the school and one of the first people at the First National Bank. He was also on the original board at Aflac.
He doesn’t like for me to talk about him. But he really did have an influence. He touched a lot of people’s lives and it just goes on and on.
Q: Yes. He has influenced so many. The music school and the arts are just one avenue in Columbus where he has touched people’s lives.
Q: OK, last question. How do you feel like the school and your involvement with it has impacted your life personally?
A: Oh, to the core. To my very core. The days and hours I spent practicing at the piano. We had two pianos at the house. Rex would come over and we would rehearse piano concertos. We played with the orchestra. It was so memorable.
We have loved seeing the growth of the faculty and the concerts they continued to give. We have loved watching them continue to give back to the school.
The school has just been a tremendous inspiration. It has been such a blessing.
This story was originally published October 14, 2017 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Founders of CSU’s Schwob School of Music say its growth ‘has been a community endeavor’."