Performances + Events
Ray Fennelle
Ray Harmon Fennelle was born July 30, 1928 in Soperton, GA. He was the son of Harmon Lee and Emma Victoria Horne-Fennelle. Fennelle received his B. A. degree from Oglethorpe University prior to enrolling at NEC in September 1958.
During his time in Boston, Fennelle appeared as a guest artist on television, radio, and at several New England colleges. He appeared frequently at well-known cultural centers such as: the Currier Gallery of Arts, the Cape Ann Historical Society, the Busch-Reisinger, Gardner and Worcester Museums of Art.
Ray Fennelle History
After earning his master’s degree from NEC in 1960, Fennelle held various administrative positions at NEC, the last being Concert Manager in 1966. Ray was a long time devoted member of Unity, most recently with Unity Spiritual Enrichment Center. In addition he performed extensively throughout the New England area in concert and oratorio. Ray, a baritone, performed as a duo with Robert Paul Sullivan, guitarist also in the New England area. His background in the music field led him to San Francisco where he continued to perform and served as personal representative to James Schwabacher, noted tenor-lecturer and president of the Merola Memorial Fund of the San Francisco Opera. Upon retirement from the music field, in 1974, he moved to Jacksonville and under the guidance of his sister, Nell Wages, longtime owner-operator of the Nell Wages Specialty Shop in Murray Hill, he opened R. Fennelle’s Inc. in Riverside from which he retired completely in 2002. In retirement, he has brought joy to many in the Riverside area through his love and pursuit of gardening. Fennelle passed away on February 13, 2011.
Ray Fennelle Archives
This collection is made up of one manuscript box containing 13 folders.
This collection includes materials belonging to Ray Fennelle that were donated to NEC by Ray Fennelle’s partner, Jerry R. Jones on June 8, 2018.
Access to the Ray Fennelle Papers is arranged by making an appointment with the NEC Archivist. There are no restrictions pertaining to this collection.
Please contact the NEC Archivist for publication permissions. Copyright restrictions may apply to the BSO Anniversary book, some of the photographs, and the sheet music/anthologies. Citation should read: NECA 18.11.3. Ray Fennelle Papers, New England Conservatory Archives, Boston, MA.
The Ray Fennelle Papers are organized into nine series:
- Correspondence
- Programs
- Publicity
- Photographs
- Class notes
- NEC
- BSO Anniversary Book
- Sheet music & Anthologies
- Miscellaneous
Mr. Fennelle’s Correspondence includes personal correspondence dating from March 12, 1967 through October 4, 1968, as well as the letter received from Mr. Jones with the donation.
Programs include recital/concert programs and contracts from June 5, 1959 through October 2, 1965. The programs series is divided into two folders: performances including Fennelle and not including Fennelle.
The photograph series includes mostly undated performance photos and professional studio pictures.
The Publicity series includes two folders that contain newspaper clippings and other publicity materials.
Class notes include undated notes taken at different classes as well as repertoire lists.
The NEC series consists of two folders containing Fennelle’s official transcript, the 1960 New England Conservatory yearbook, and school correspondence from 1960 through 1966.
The BSO Anniversary Book series contains the Boston Symphony 85th Anniversary Dinner program and Golden Trumpet Ball book from 1965.
The Sheet music & anthologies series consists of two folders containing sheet music handouts and anthologies composed, arranged or collected by: Claude Debussy, Mabelle Glenn, Hugo Frey, Ruggiero Leoncavallo, Lewandowski-Binder, Gladys Pitcher, Richard Rogers, John Edmunds, Ermine Huntress, and Edward Marks.
Included in the Miscellaneous series are undated and unnamed papers and essays. There is also an official ballot for the March 23, 1932 primary election for the Democratic Presidential Party.
Series 1: Correspondence
Folder 1: 1960 – 1968
Series 2: Programs
Folder 2: Fennelle concert programs
Folder 3: Other programs
Series 3: Publicity
Folder 4: Newspaper Clippings
Folder 5: Other publicity
Series 4: Photographs
Folder 6: Undated
Series 5: Class Notes
Folder 7: Undated
Series 6: NEC
Folder 8: Correspondence, transcript
Folder 9: Yearbook
Series 7: BSO Anniversary Book
Folder 10: 1965
Series 8: Sheet Music & Anthologies
Folder 11: Debussy – Leoncavallo
Folder 12: Lewandowski – Anthologies
Series 9: Miscellaneous
Folder 13: Other papers
