54 years ago, in the spring of 1962, a Reed chemistry student named Virginia Oglesby submitted a senior thesis titled, “The Synthesis of Heterocyclic Imidochlorides.” This week marks the end of yet another thesis season, but for Virginia (now Hancock), it celebrated the end of a completely different kind of project: three decades spent leading the choral program at Reed as a Professor of Music. Last night in Kaul Auditorium she conducted her last spring choral concert as a Professor of Music. From now on, each time she lifts a baton it will be as Reed College Professor Emerita. Thank you, Ginny, for all these years of beautiful, thoughtful music.
Concert aftermath: For those in the know, it will seem only right that Ginny had the chorus and orchestra play Brahms so the real surprise came when the audience, under the guidance of John Vergin ’78, rose to its feet to sing its appreciation back to Ginny. Our lyrics came from some place less notable, but you might enjoy trying them out for yourself.
ODE TO GINNY HANCOCK
Sung To the Tune of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”
O, Ginny, ’tis for thee
We strive to sing on key
Lest we offend.
Thy grace notes and thy trills
And ornamental frills
The heart with rapture fills;
You are Reed’s staunch friend.
Plato and Socrates
Do on occasion please,
And Homer, too.
Yet, the Symposium
Can smack of tedium,
But never the Collegium,
Which springs anew.
When life is out of joint,
First species counterpoint
Will serve us well.
When we need sound advice
We needn’t ask her twice,
Ginny will be precise,
Our doubts to quell.
Let music swell at Reed,
And bring to all, the need
To sing the more.
For that which soothes and calms,
Revealing hidden balms,
Simply resort to Brahms,
For the encore.
Ginny, you’ve done your part,
We thank you from the heart
For your good sense.
In perpetuity
This be thy legacy:
“Breathe diaphragmaticly”
Through the cadence.