Linda Vollen, Pittsburg, didn’t have time to serve as president of the Kansas Federation of Music Clubs.
But that didn’t keep her from being elected to a two-year term as president during the KFMC state convention in April at Lawrence. There are 16 KFMC-affiliated music clubs in Kansas.
It all started, Vollen said, when she joined the Treble Clef Club, a KFMC affiliate in 1970, shortly after moving to Pittsburg. Her husband, Gene Vollen, is now retired after serving many years as Pittsburg State University music department chairman.
Vollen started playing violin at the age of 10.
“When we came to Kansas I was asked to play in a group and I joined Treble Clef,” she said. “I’ve been secretary and president of the club.”
Vollen attended some KFMC state conventions, including some that were held in Pittsburg.
“In the late 1980s I served two years as KFMC second vice president in charge of junior clubs,” she said. “That was that, until two years ago when they asked me to be state secretary. Then they asked me to be president, and I said no, because of time, but ended up being president anyway.”
One of her first duties will be to attend Opera of the Ozarks at Inspiration Point, near Eureka Springs, Ark. This is a music program for promising university students, who rehearse and present a summer opera season. National Federation of Music Clubs, which is dedicated to finding and fostering young musical talent, is a supporter of the program.
“They have Federation Days at the end of the season, and the different states in the NFMC South Central Region — Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma ad Texas — host banquets,” Vollen said. “We sell scarves, bags and other music-related items, with the proceeds going to scholarships.”
Then, in the fall, will be a KFMC board meeting, as well as five district meetings throughout Kansas.
“I’m hoping to get to all five, but it depends,” Vollen said.
She will also help organize and preside at the next state convention in April at Newton.
“There’s a lot of paperwork involved, and I have to ask people to serve as chairmen for various activities,” Vollen said. “A lot of this can be done by e-mail now, and that helps a lot.”
Somewhere in all of this, she also tries to find time for music. The National Federation of Music Clubs provides opportunities for musical study, performance and appreciation to its club members, and Vollen especially enjoys participating in Treble Clef Club programs.
“It’s a place to play, especially chamber music,” she said.
Vollen is a member of the Southeast Kansas String Quartet, which plays for weddings and other special events, as well as the Southeast Kansas Symphony and the Missouri Southern State University Orchestra.
She said her involvement with the MSSU orchestra led to a trip to China.
“A Chinese orchestra invited us to come,” Vollen said. “We had four rehearsals and a concert over a period of two days. They gave us a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner. We also visited some Chinese conservatories.”
The trip was rewarding and fun, except for one small challenge.
“I had to carry my violin as a backpack,” Vollen said. “I had never done that before.”
PITTSBURG —
