Lamont Donor Profile: Michael and Veryl McBride
The Lamont community is both broad and deep. Our centennial this year is one reminder, with alumni, longtime donors, and friends joining faculty, students and staff to celebrate a full century of Lamont’s presence and influence upon generations of students and on musical life in Denver.
Alumni Michael and Veryl McBride (’65 and ’64, respectively) are part of that proud heritage. They remain involved in their alma mater, coming to concerts and supporting Lamont through their generous philanthropy.
Lamont has been part of Michael’s and Veryl’s lives for some time. They met in 7th grade at a Baptist Youth camp near Colorado Springs and matriculated at DU in the early 1960s. At Lamont, they accompanied each other in their lessons (Michael is an organist, Veryl a vocalist). “We loved it,” said Michael. “When Veryl was a student here, she was a real leader in subtle ways. She sang in operas, including with Central City Opera. She was more of an inspiration than she realizes.” One highlight for her during her time at Lamont was a voice lesson with the renowned Marian Anderson (1897-1993).
Michael’s studies were interrupted when he was drafted, or, as he puts it, when he “received an invitation from the President to participate in the Vietnam War.” In Vietnam he served as a Chaplain’s Assistant with the Chaplain for General Westmoreland. When he returned to the U.S., he continued his studies on the GI bill, completing a Masters in Church Music from CU Boulder and a Ph.D. from Morgridge College of Education at DU. He taught music in Brighton for some years and enjoyed a career in Denver as church organist and choral director. He still plays in services twice monthly, although he stopped directing choirs a few years ago. His longest appointment was at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Lakewood, where he served ten years. A highlight of that tenure came with a production of The Many Moods of Christmas, a grouping of 18 Christmas carols assembled into four suites by Robert Russell Bennett and Robert Shaw. The taping for television was sold to A&E Network, which broadcast it for five years.
Lamont remains special in their lives. They remember faculty Genevieve McGiffert (voice) and Jim Bratton (organ) as influential teachers. For them, personal attention is a defining element of Lamont. Beyond their own experiences, they highlight the attention given to Jenna Bainbridge (BM ’14) and her performing in Suffs as the first person in a wheelchair to perform in a new musical on Broadway (and who was just featured in last month’s Lyrics), and to what they witness today during “Day at Lamont,” when donors are invited to Lamont to attend classes, lessons, and rehearsals for a day.
Michael and Veryl support Lamont generously in many ways. They are regular attendees at concerts and other events, and they contribute regularly to student scholarships and funding for organ studies. Most recently, they made a generous pledge to Lamont as part of their estate.
“I think Lamont has grown on campus in a very positive way, but it also has grown nationally,” said Michael. “We like to support success.” Michael’s and Veryl’s own successes are part of that tradition. They are part of what makes Lamont the wonderful community it is.
