Harold W. Gilbert, 1939-1959 

Harold W. Gilbert, headmaster at St. Peter’s Choir School, became music director in 1939. He expanded Mendelssohn Club’s repertoire heavily into oratorios, instituting annual performance of Messiah and a series of Elgar’s oratorios The Dream of Gerontius, The Apostles and The Kingdom. He continued the remarkable tradition of featuring young singers who would later enjoy substantial reputations, including Anna Moffo, Beverly Wolff, and Benita Valente.