Dr. Verne Westlake – President 1936 – 1937

Dr. Arthur Verne Westlake (1884–1939) was a notable figure in American music education and religious music composition. He studied under the renowned piano pedagogue Theodor Leschetizky in Vienna and earned a Doctor of Music degree. Westlake was both a concert pianist and an instructor, with teaching positions in New York City and New Jersey. He also held a prominent role at Taylor University before moving to Nyack College in 1923, where he led the music department until his death in 1939.

 

Dr. Westlake was actively involved in conducting open-air religious services in New York’s Columbus Circle, often employing a portable organ. His contributions to religious music include composing several hymns, such as Help Me Find My Way, Lord, which was both a personal testimony and a widely recognized piece in Christian hymnody. He also set several of A.B. Simpson’s poems to music, further solidifying his place in the religious music scene.

 

His impact extended beyond education, as he was deeply involved in religious gatherings and was respected for his ability to bring music into spiritual settings.

 

Taylor University Bulletin (1921)

Taylor University Bulletin (1921)

Taylor University Bulletin (1921)

Taylor University Bulletin (1921)

 

Sources: https://hymnary.org/person/Westlake_AV, https://hymnary.org/tune/help_me_find_my_way_lord_westlake, https://pillars.taylor.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1394&context=tu-bulletin