Choir History
The Oil City High School
Music Program is one steeped in tradition. Since the creation of the
orchestra and band programs in the late 1920s and the combining of the
men’s and women’s glee clubs into the first A Cappella Choir in 1934,
there has been a tradition of strong musical groups at Oil City High
School. We as a community, school district, faculty, and students
should feel proud and blessed that these opportunities are available to
the young people of our area.
DIRECTORS OF THE A CAPPELLA CHOIR:
Mr. Mitchell studied
music at The Ohio Millitary Band School, The Dana School of Music,
Youngstown, and completed his masters in music
education at Indiana State Teacher's College, now IUP (Indiana PA). He
taught music at Oil City High School from 1926 to 1956, and served as
the first chairman of the music department, a position he held until his
death in 1956.
He was an accomplished percussionist and author of numerous drum solos, and a
method book that is still
published. He played in "Pershing's Own," the elite United States Army Band, in World War I, and led the American Legion Band in Oil
City for many years. He established the marching band, choir, and orchestra
programs, combined the men's and women's glee clubs into the A Cappella
Choir in the fall of 1934, was the first director of the Oil City High
School Swing Out in 1948, and established the first era of annual musical productions at Oil City HS. He passed away in the fall of 1956, and the 1957 yearbook was dedicated to his memory.
Mr. Phillip Runzo (1957 - 1973)
Mr. Runzo was a 1929 graduate of Indiana High School and later went on to graduate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he received bachelor of science degrees in music education and English. He earned his master of music education degree at Penn State University. Mr. Runzo taught in the Oil City School District where he served as a teacher for 36 years. He was the director of bands and orchestras from 1937 to 1957, and in 1938 he organized one of the very first high school concert bands in the state. From 1938 through 1942, the Oil City High School Orchestra achieved the distinction of Class A champions in the Pennsylvania Forensic and Music League. He composed the Oil City High School Alma Mater in 1942, and in that same year the high school yearbook, The Oil Can, was dedicated to him. In 1958, Mr. Runzo was named head of the music department of Oil City Area Schools, and he held that position until retiring in 1973. During his years at Oil City, he directed and wrote arrangements for the high school A Cappella Choir. As head of the music department, he designed the music wing of the new Oil City Senior High School. With the advent of this facility, he initiated a series of concerts by professional symphony orchestras, choral groups and name jazz bands. He also presented four Jazz Festivals that featured many local musicians and guest artists. Mr. Runzo also had directed the American Legion Band, the VFW Band, St. Stephen All-Male Choir and the Venango Choral Society. Mr. Runzo passed away in 2002.
Mr. Peter J. Nelson (1973 - 1981)
Mr. Nelson earned his degrees in music education and classical piano
from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Masters of Music from
Duquesne University. He taught in the
Homer Center School District before coming to Oil City. During his time
at Oil City High School, he continued the many traditions of the choir
program, and collaborated with John McConnell to re-establish the annual
high school musicals, beginning in 1975 with "You're a Good Man, Charlie
Brown." He has returned on occasion to guest conduct the Oil City
Choirs and perform as accompanist and piano soloist. Mr. Nelson still
lives in the Oil City Area.
Mr. John E. McConnell (1981 - 1999)
Mr. McConnell, co-founder of the modern era of OCHS annual musicals along with his wife, English teacher Susan McConnell, served as the Music Department Chair, and taught vocal music at Oil City for twenty-five years. A
1967 graduate of Duquesne University, Mr. McConnell holds a Master of
Music, with focused study on voice, and a bachelor's degree in Music
Education, with an emphasis on piano and voice. He also holds both Supervisory and Principal certifications through Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Mr. McConnell taught in the schools of
Alexandria, VA and Penn Hills (Pittsburgh area), PA before coming to Oil
City in 1975. He began his career in Oil City at the Junior High
School, before moving to the high school in the fall of 1981. He was
the recipient of the 1998
Pennsylvania Music Educators' Association 'Citation of Excellence,' the
2008 Franklin Fine Arts Council 'Artist of the Year,' and the Venango
Barbertones' 'Award of Harmony.' His theater experience includes, but is
not limited to, the Franklin Civic Operetta Association, the Pittsburgh
Civic Light Opera, Community Playhouse, Inc. of Oil City, the North
Clarion Players, Little Theatre of Alexandria (Virginia), Chatham
College Opera Workshop, Duquesne University Opera/Theatre and more.
Mr. Steven W. Luxbacher (1999 - present)
Mr.
Luxbacher is beginning his twenty-fifth year as director of choirs at Oil City
High School.
He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from West Virginia
University and a Master's Degree in Music Education from the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In addition to directing nine choral
ensembles and the middle and senior high, he teaches general music at the middle school
level, assists with the marching band, and directs and produces the annual musicals. During his time at
Oil City, he has revamped the mixed ensemble, now called the Rhapsody in
Blues, to focus on vocal jazz and contemporary a cappella styles, and has collaborated with the Venango Barbertones and Allegheny
Sounds Chorus to establish men's and women's barbershop quartet
programs, with both quartets competing at the international level, most recently at the Barbershop Harmony Society Youth Quartet Contest in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Sweet Adelines International Rising Star Contest in Manchester, England.
OIL CITY HS CHORAL ENSEMBLE DIRECTORS:
Mr. Carl Brozeski
Mr. Robert English
Mr. Gerald Keefer
Ms. Grace Leyda
Mr. C. Frank Puleo
Mrs. Linda Wrhen