Past Presidents
Chronology of VanderCook College's Presidents
CHARLES T. MENGHINI, 2004 - PRESENT
ROSEANNE K. ROSENTHAL, 1989 - 2004
JAMES GILWORTH, 1981 - 1989
RICHARD BRITTAIN, 1975 - 1980
HUBERT E. NUTT, 1966 -1974
JOHN H. BECKERMAN, 1950 - 1966
CHARLES T. MENGHINI
(2004-present) Dr. Menghini became band director and Dean of the Undergraduate program at VanderCook in 1994. He states, "it will be my mission to make VanderCook graduates the best prepared candidates to lead our school band, choirs, orchestras and general music programs."
ROSEANNE K. ROSENTHAL
 (1989-2004) Dr. Rosenthal joined the VanderCook faculty in 1980 as Director of Academic and Professional Education and taught undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology, methods of teaching, music and special education and research in music. In 1989 she became president and guided the college through the period of transition from our old home on Michigan Ave. to our current buildings on Federal Street. She is also credited with stabilizing the college both academically and financially. In a 1990 interview she stated "I want us to be the best music education school in the country for both instrumental and choral music. I want to have the same name recognition for our school as Juilliard or Eastman. People instantly know these names. I want us to be perceived as an institution that fills a very important need in society." Since 2004 Dr. Rosenthal has continued to guide the research studies of our graduate students. In 2011 Dr. Rosenthal began her two-year term as president of the Illinois Music Educators' Association (IMEA).
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JAMES GILWORTH
(1981-1989) Gilworth's term spanned a difficult period of the College's history in which many of the original faculty died or retired, competition from colleges offering a degree in music education increased, and state accreditation requirements forced changes in the College's curriculum. His greatest success at the College was the expansion of the summer workshop program which allows music educators to return to school for practical training while earning graduate credit.
RICHARD BRITTAIN
 (1975-1980) His career at VanderCook spanned 52 years, beginning when he was a high school student attending summer camp. He began teaching at the Chicago Boys Clubs, and ended up Full Professor at VCM, directing the Symphonic Concert Band, teaching woodwinds, theory, organization and giving private lessons on all instruments.
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HUBERT E. NUTT
(1966-1974) The "adopted son" of Hale VanderCook, H.E. was the person responsible for establishing the College's 4-year curriculum in undergraduate music teacher education, and the 4-summer graduate curriculum. "H.E. never took a salary for his work and at one point donated over twenty thousand dollars from the sale of a farm he owned near Aurora, Illinois." (from The Lives of Howard Raymond Lyons and H.E. Nutt, by G.R. Borich, p. 116)
JOHN H. BECKERMAN
 (1950-1966) B.S., Lewis Institute, B.M. Ed., VanderCook College of Music, and Ed. M, DePaul University. A veteran of World War II with the United States Navy, Mr. Beckerman served a total of 37 years in music and general education in the Chicago Public Schools, as well as at VanderCook College. He taught courses at VanderCook in Methods of Teaching Woodwinds, Double Reeds, Flute, Music History, and Principles of Guidance and Counseling.
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