Dr. Francis Gerard Bulber was a native of New Orleans, LA. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Biloxi, MS, and received a Bachelors of Music Education and Masters of Music from LSU as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English. He did post-graduate work at Northwestern University in Chicago. He received his Ph.D. from Peabody College in Nashville, TN, in Music Education. While at LSU he was employed by the State of Louisiana to establish music organizations throughout Louisiana. It was from this program that he began the Lake Charles Civic Symphony and the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus, of which he was founder and director.
     He taught at Pearl River Junior College before coming to McNeese State University in 1940. In 1954, he received the President’s Cup from the McNeese Alumni Association. He was awarded Dean Emeritus when he retired in 1976 after having served as head of the McNeese Music Department, Dean of Fine Arts and Academic Dean.
     He was a 3rd Degree and 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. In 1992, he was named Citizen of the Year by the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. In 1966, Pope Paul VI invested him as Knight of St. Gregory the Great. He served two terms as president of the Chapter of Knights of St. Gregory and two terms as president of the Companions of Honor for the Lake Charles Diocese. He worked to establish a Catholic Student Center at McNeese and served on its board for 10 years.
     Dr. Bulber was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Mu Sinfonia Fraternity, and Sigma Alpha Iota Friend of the Arts; the Lake Charles Evening Lions Club and the Louisiana Music Educators Association. He was editor of the Louisiana Musician, and was inducted into the LMEA Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Music Educators National Conference and served on the accrediting board for the National Association of Schools of Music.
     At the time of his death, he was owner and operator of Bulber Music Mart and was a member of the National Association of Music Merchants.
He was married to Patricia Cavell Bulber; they had two sons, Gerard S. Bulber and John V. Reed and three daughters, Mary Frances Bulber Reed, Patricia Cecile Bulber, and Colette Marie Bulber. Dr. Bulber died on June 24, 1992 at the age of 83.

     The collection contains CDs (transferred from reel-to-reel tapes) of performances conducted by Dr. Bulber from dates prior to 1954 to 1978. The performances are primarily operas performed by students at McNeese, the annual performance of The Messiah, and the Lake Charles Civic Symphony.

Box 1

FF 1                 Francis Bulber

The Louisiana Musician “Tribute to Dr. Francis G. Bulber: A Louisiana Legend in Music Education”

September 1992

FF2                  McNeese Orchestra

n.d.-prior to 1954?

Solo pianist Helen Crysafides

FF3                  Pirates of Penzance

Act 1

April 16-17, 1953

Sponsored jointly by the Lake Charles Lions Club and the McNeese College Music Department, under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber

Pirates of Penzance

Act 2

April 16-17, 1953

Sponsored jointly by the Lake Charles Lions Club and the McNeese College Music Department, under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber

FF4                  Messiah

December 6, 1953 (14^th annual)

Part 1

Mutual Broadcasting/KAOK/McNeese Production

Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Conductor

Messiah

December 6, 1953 (14^th annual)

Part 2

Mutual Broadcasting/KAOK/McNeese Production

Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Conductor

FF5                  Easter Broadcast

April 10, 1955

Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of music at McNeese State College

Tenor solo by Charles Fullmer

FF6                  McNeese Orchestra Program

May 8, 1955

Conductor is Warren Signor

FF7                  Easter Broadcast

April 1, 1956

Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Conductor

Messiah Chorus singing selected excerpts from Handel’s Messiah

Redemption by Gounod

Crucifixion by Stainer

FF8                  Cavalleria Rusticana

March 5, 1959

Act 1 (one-act opera)

Frederick Tooley, conductor, in the McNeese Auditorium

Sandford Linscome (Sanford Linscombe), Ilona Kombrink, Marie David, Bernice Timpa

Cavalleria Rusticana

March 6, 1959

Act 1 (one-act opera)

Frederick Tooley, conductor, in the McNeese Auditorium

Sandford Linscome (Sanford Linscombe), Ilona Kombrink, Marie David, Bernice Timpa

FF9                  Faust

Reel 1

April 28-29, 1960

Lake Charles Messiah Chorus/Community Opera Workshop Production

Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of McNeese State College

Lake Charles High School Auditorium

Faust played by Robert Snead and Marguerite played by Shirley Hebert

Faust

Reel 2

April 28-29, 1960

Lake Charles Messiah Chorus/Community Opera Workshop Production

Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of McNeese State College

Lake Charles High School Auditorium

Faust played by Robert Snead and Marguerite played by Shirley Hebert

FF 10               Messiah Chorus

n.d.-1960?

Dr. Bulber talking to chorus prior to performance with Christmas carols afterwards.

FF 11               Messiah Chorus

n.d.-1960?

Redemption Excerpts

Saturday Night Rehearsal

FF 12               Lake Charles Civic Symphony

“Brahms’ Symphony Number 2”

February 7, 1961

McNeese Auditorium

FF 13               Carmen

Act 1, Part 1

April 27, 1961

2^nd Annual Opera Workshop Production of the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean; featuring Dr. Maurice Pullig as narrator

In the Lake Charles High School Auditorium

2 piano and organ accompaniment (pianos – Kathleen Allums and Mary Patricia Cavell Bulber, organist – Juanelva Rose)

Lamar LeBoeuf as Carmen

Carmen

Act 1, Part 2 and Act 2

April 27, 1961

2^nd Annual Opera Workshop Production of the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean; featuring Dr. Maurice Pullig as narrator

In the Lake Charles High School Auditorium

2 piano and organ accompaniment (pianos – Kathleen Allums and Mary Patricia Cavell Bulber, organist – Juanelva Rose)

Lamar LeBoeuf as Carmen

Carmen

Act 3 and Act 4

April 27, 1961

2^nd Annual Opera Workshop Production of the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean; featuring Dr. Maurice Pullig as narrator

In the Lake Charles High School Auditorium

2 piano and organ accompaniment (pianos – Kathleen Allums and Mary Patricia Cavell Bulber, organist – Juanelva Rose)

Lamar LeBoeuf as Carmen

FF 14               Carmen

Act 1

April 28, 1961

2^nd Annual Opera Workshop Production of the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean; in the Lake Charles High School Auditorium

Janet Assunto Dolan as Carmen

Carmen

Act 2

April 28, 1961

2^nd Annual Opera Workshop Production of the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean; in the Lake Charles High School Auditorium

Janet Assunto Dolan as Carmen

Carmen

Act 3

April 28, 1961

2^nd Annual Opera Workshop Production of the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean; in the Lake Charles High School Auditorium

Janet Assunto Dolan as Carmen

Box 2  

FF1                  Lake Charles Civic Symphony

February 13, 1962

Part 1

Star Spangled Banner

Overture to Oberon – von Weber

Symphony in D-Minor, First Movement – Cesar Franck

Drusilla Huffmaster (Huffmeister), pianist; Dr. Francis G. Bulber, conductor in the McNeese Auditorium

Lake Charles Civic Symphony

February 13, 1962

Part 2

Symphony in D-Minor, Second and Third Movement – Cesar Franck

Drusilla Huffmaster (Huffmeister), pianist; Dr. Francis G. Bulber, conductor in the McNeese Auditorium

Lake Charles Civic Symphony

February 13, 1962

Part 3

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D-Minor - Mozart

Encore – Impromptu in A-Flat Major - Chopin

Drusilla Huffmaster (Huffmeister), pianist; Dr. Francis G. Bulber, conductor in the McNeese Auditorium

FF2                  Tosca

Act 1

April 27, 1962

Lake Charles Messiah Chorus/Community Opera Workshop Production

Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of McNeese State College

Lake Charles High School Auditorium

Mario Cavaradossi played by Robert Snead and Floria Tosca played by Shirley Hebert

Tosca

Act 2

April 27, 1962

Lake Charles Messiah Chorus/Community Opera Workshop Production

Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of McNeese State College

Lake Charles High School Auditorium

Mario Cavaradossi played by Robert Snead and Floria Tosca played by Shirley Hebert

Tosca

Act 3

April 27-27, 1962

Lake Charles Messiah Chorus/Community Opera Workshop Production

Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of McNeese State College

Lake Charles High School Auditorium

Mario Cavaradossi played by Robert Snead and Floria Tosca played by Shirley Hebert

FF3                  Chamber Recital

Reel 1

July 13, 1962

Flute and Harpsichord by Pat Bulber, Harpsicord by Joyce Babb

Chamber Recital

Reel 2

July 13, 1962

Flute and Harpsichord by Pat Bulber, Harpsicord by Joyce Babb

FF4                  Lake Charles Civic Symphony

“Overture to Tannhauser”

April 8, 1964

Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of music at McNeese State College

“Overture to Tannhauser”, “Swan Lake”, “White Peacock” , and “Mozart Concerto seem to all have been performed on the same date at the same event.

Lake Charles Civic Symphony

April 8, 1964

Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of music at McNeese State College

Lake Charles Civic Symphony

“Swan Lake”

April 8, 1964

Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of music at McNeese State College

“Overture to Tannhauser”, “Swan Lake”, “White Peacock”, and “Mozart Concerto” seem to all have been performed on the same date at the same event.

Lake Charles Civic Symphony

“White Peacock”

April 8, 1964

Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of music at McNeese State College

“Overture to Tannhauser”, “Swan Lake”, “White Peacock”, and “Mozart Concerto seem to all have been performed on the same date at the same event.

Lake Charles Civic Symphony

“Mozart Concerto”

April 8, 1964

Director is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of music at McNeese State College

“Overture to Tannhauser”, “Swan Lake”, “White Peacock”, and “Mozart Concerto” seem to all have been performed on the same date at the same event.

FF5                  Lake Charles Civic Symphony

“Der Freischuetz”

February 16, 1965

Guest conductor is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of music at McNeese State College

Solos included A. J. Gibbs, Michael Hooten, and Sylvia and William Kushner

Lake Charles Civic Symphony

“Der Freischuetz” continued from 36

February 16, 1965

Guest conductor is Dr. Francis Bulber, academic dean of music at McNeese State College

Solos included A. J. Gibbs, Michael Hooten, and Sylvia and William Kushner

FF6                  Mese Mariano

November 5, 1965

Presented by Department of Music McNeese State College for Louisiana Music Teachers Association 14^th Annual Convention

Director is Frederick Tooley

Dedication of Fine Arts Recital Hall to the Memory of Dr. Ralph A. Squires

Sister Celesta is played by Catherine Daugherty and Sister Agnes is played by Hope Hackler

FF7                  Carmen

Act 1

July 21, 1965

Lake Charles Messiah Chorus Production under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Director of the Chorus and Dean of the Division of Fine Arts, in Ralph Squires Auditorium on McNeese campus, accompanied by full orchestra

Janet Assunto Dolan as Carmen

Carmen

Act 2

July 21, 1965

Lake Charles Messiah Chorus Production under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Director of the Chorus and Dean of the Division of Fine Arts, in Ralph Squires Auditorium on McNeese campus, accompanied by full orchestra

Janet Assunto Dolan as Carmen

Carmen

Act 3 and 4

July 21, 1965

Lake Charles Messiah Chorus Production under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Director of the Chorus and Dean of the Division of Fine Arts, in Ralph Squires Auditorium on McNeese campus, accompanied by full orchestra

Janet Assunto Dolan as Carmen

FF8                  Madame Butterfly

Act 1

March 10, 1966

Carmen played by Patricia York; Lt. Pinkerton played by Robert Snead

In the McNeese State College Auditorium under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean of the Division of Fine Arts

Madame Butterfly

Act 2

March 10, 1966

Carmen played by Patricia York; Lt. Pinkerton played by Robert Snead

In the McNeese State College Auditorium under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean of the Division of Fine Arts

Madame Butterfly

Act 3

March 10, 1966

Carmen played by Patricia York; Lt. Pinkerton played by Robert Snead

In the McNeese State College Auditorium under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean of the Division of Fine Arts

FF9                  Madame Butterfly

Act 1

March 11, 1966

Carmen played by Patricia York; Lt. Pinkerton played by Robert Snead

In the McNeese State College Auditorium under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean of the Division of Fine Arts

Madame Butterfly

Act 2

March 11, 1966

Carmen played by Patricia York; Lt. Pinkerton played by Robert Snead

In the McNeese State College Auditorium under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean of the Division of Fine Arts

Madame Butterfly

Act 3

March 11, 1966

Carmen played by Patricia York; Lt. Pinkerton played by Robert Snead

In the McNeese State College Auditorium under the direction of Dr. Francis G. Bulber, Dean of the Division of Fine Arts

FF 10               Lake Charles Civic Symphony

“Peter and the Wolf”

February 7, 1967

Conductor is Wilder

Solos included Mrs. Bulber on flute, Woodrow James on the trumpet, and Earnest Harrison on the oboe

FF 11               Lake Charles Civic Symphony

January 29, 1978

Conductor William Kushner

Lake Charles Civic Center

Solos included Heidi Lehwalder, harpist, and Patricia Bulber, flutist