John R. Sweney

John R. Sweney (1837–1899) was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania., December 31, 1837. He gave marked indications of musical ability at an early age. While yet a boy he began to teach music in the public school and to lead music in the Sunday-school. This musical work determined his whole future life. His love for music and his success in it led him to choose it for a profession. While thus teaching and leading it was his custom to occasionally compose for his school.

At the age of nineteen he began the study of music in earnest under Professor Bauer, a celebrated German teacher. He took lessons on the violin and piano. About this time he was chosen leader of a choir, and was also in constant demand for children's concerts and entertainments, as well as the conductor of a glee club.

At the age of twenty-two he was called to teach at Dover, Delaware, where he was successfully at work when the War broke out. He then took charge of the band of the Third Delaware Regiment, and continued till bands were disbanded by the government. After returning from the war he was appointed Professor of Music at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, then located at West Chester, Pennsylvania. Previous to this time he had written several pieces for the piano, which were published. Three years after, the Pennsylvania Military Academy was removed to its present location, Chester, Pennsylvania., but at the solicitation of many friends he remained in West Chester, and put his energy into his teaching there, especially his band, until "Sweney's Cornet Band" became famous in that part of the state.

About 1869 he was recalled to the Pennsylvania Military Academy, and moved to Chester, where he was professor of music in that institution for twenty-five years.

In 1876 the academy conferred on him the degree of Bachelor of Music, and in 1886, the degree of Doctor of Music was conferred on him by the same institution. In 1871, having connected himself with the church in Chester, he began the composition of sacred music, and soon became widely known, and was in great demand as leader of large congregations.

For many years he led the vast assemblies at the well-known summer meetings at Ocean Grove, New Jersey. He also had charge of the music at Lake Bluif, near Chicago; at New Albany, Indiana.; Old Orchard, Me.; Round Lake, New York.; Thousand Islands, and many other places ; in fact, he was one of the most popular and successful song leaders in the country. It was a common saying among evangelists that " Sweney knows how to make a congregation sing."

For ten years or more he had charge of the music at Bethany Presbyterian Church and Sunday-school in Philadelphia, of which school John Wanamaker was superintendent—one of the largest Sunday-schools in the United States.

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