Shriner Music Library

Born and educated in Chicago, Illinois, Russell Shriner attended Murray State University and Northwestern University where he obtained degrees in Music and French Horn. During his college days, he participated in many musical groups and organizations including the College Symphonic Orchestra and the Glee Club. After moving to Charlotte, Russell became an early charter member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, playing the French Horn, and was a "fill in" for various local symphony orchestras in the Carolinas.

In 1977, Russell found a satisfying way to continue his longtime interest in music after retiring from the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Alexander Graham High School. Gene Bryant, first department head of Central Piedmont Visual and Performing Arts, requested his help in collecting and organizing records and other music materials for the Music Library, and by 1978 Mr. Shriner had collected more than 3,000 records, books and scores. It was this same year (1978) that the Board of Trustees for Central Piedmont named the library in his honor.

For a number of years, he came to the Music Department each day to work on cataloging the fast-growing collection and by 1984 the number surpassed 7,000. At first, he worked without pay, but later he was hired as a part time employee. Mr. Shriner had a knack of acquiring more materials. "I’ve begged and begged, and people have responded well," he stated. "Students give. Faculty members give. Record companies give. People getting ready to move out of state give." Pretty soon he ran out of space for the donations, especially when individual collections were contributed such as the 500 records of former WBTV weatherman Clyde "Cloudy" McLean.

He was most helpful and enthusiastic about his recordings and encouraged students and faculty alike to listen, broadening their knowledge of different composers. He would often catch a faculty member in the hall and hand you an index card with customized listening suggestions "just for you." He also delighted in providing music puzzles, quizzes or a mystery composition that challenged all of us. He had a wonderful sense of humor. Every morning, I would greet him with "Mr. Shriner, how are you today?" and with a twinkle in his blue eyes he would invariably say "I’m better now." I particularly remember his comment as he kneeled to find a record on the lowest shelf… "Let me assume an attitude of prayer." He cared for his recordings as if they were family members, and woe be to anyone who misplaced, scratched or abused them. You could expect a gentle but serious scolding.

Upon retirement from his full time position he made a pact with himself to listen to one new piece each week and spend at least four hours each day listening and reading. He also read every word on record jackets and more often than not wrote helpful comments on the quality of the recording. Some of his original records and music scores are available in the Music Library. While Mr. Shriner died in September 1991 the music library lives on.