Katherine
Gladney Wells
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Katherine
Gladney attended Mary Institute and graduated
from John Burroughs High School. She attended
Smith College before marrying Ben H. Wells
in 1938. Because of a lifetime devoted to
music and humanities, Mrs. Wells holds an
Honorary Doctorate in Music from the St. Louis
Conservatory and a Doctor of Humane Letters
from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
A
prolific writer, Katherine reaches her potential
in each of two writing art forms: poetry and
music. She has been very active in the Writers
Workshop of the St. Louis Wednesday Club and
has twice won their poetry contest with original
pieces. As for music, Mrs. Wells has written
over 50 skits complete with music for fund
raising campaigns benefiting the United Way,
Arts & Education Council, Women's Symphony
Society and John Burroughs High School. She
has written annual shows with music for John
Burroughs High School and for 20 years was
responsible for annual and semi-annual parody
song shows performed at Bellerive Country
Club.
Classically
trained, Mrs. Wells has written innumerable
art songs that have been performed by professional
singers with either piano, organ or orchestral
accompaniment. Mrs. Wells has composed several
anthems that are still being performed by
churches in New England and St. Louis.
From
1979 to 1998, Mrs. Wells composed 15 orchestral
pieces that have been performed by the St.
Louis Symphony Orchestra. Because of these
pieces, Mrs. Wells has been made an Honorary
Member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
and established herself as a classical composer.
Seven years ago she was honored by being named
an Honorary Member of the Musician's Union.
These achievements in music would please any
professional musician, however, Katherine
Wells' personal contribution to music is exceeded
only by her philanthropic contribution to
music and the arts in St. Louis. A lifetime
of financial support has benefited the St.
Louis Symphony Society and the former St.
Louis Conservatory and School for the Arts.
Those closest to the St. Louis Symphony have
even remarked, "Without Katherine Wells there
would not be a St. Louis Symphony."
In
1994, Mrs. Wells received the Lifetime Achievement
Award from the Arts & Education Council. It
is a privilege for ARTS FOR LIFE to honor
Katherine Gladney Wells for her tremendous
contributions to music and music related organizations
in St. Louis.
Biography-June 17, 2001.
