Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music - Opus Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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Fabien Sevitzkv Director for Jan Syiii phony and Chorus ' ( O 5 S» 111 '

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the instrumental department began to make plans and preparations for the series of instrumental soloists and ensemble groups to be presented in Indianapolis and surrounding communities during the second semester of the school year. A recital by members of the woodwind faculty initiated the new semester. Soloists were James Hosmer, flute; Herman Bcilfuss, bassoon, and Clyde Miller, French horn. They were assisted by Lynne Wainwright, piano; Harvey McGvxire, oboe, and Sam Scott, clarinet. The program opened with the Serenade for Wind Instruments, by Karl Hoyer, played by the quintet. Then followed solo and trio numbers by Mr. Hosmer, Mr. Beilfuss, and Mr. Miller. The program was concluded with three short ntimbers by the quintet. Miss Wainwright received special recognition when the quintet played Pastoral, her composition, as an encore. On the twenty-second of February a concert was given at the Odeon in honor of Ignace Jan Paderewski. This concert, under the direction of Joseph Lautner, was given as a contribution toward the National Paderewski Testimonial to honor this great pianist and composer. Excerpts from the composer ' s works were played by Imogene Pierson, Renato Pacini, and Richard Niessink, members of the Conservatory faculty, and by Rosalind Phillips and Joseph Lewis, students. The Odeon again was the scene of a recital on the twenty-sixth of February when the Student Woodwind Ensemble, directed by James Hosmer, presented a diversified and highly enjoyable program. Those students taking part were Eleanor Ellenberger, Beth Ann Brown, Vincent Stouder, Lorene Markle, Nellie Jones, Sidney Flack, Jean Graham, Gail Weimer, Carol Meidema, Richard Foster, Pat Rheinhardt, Paul Harder, Paul Mueller, Paul McDowell, Robert Evans, Verne Jacobs and Pat Pearson. A Rhapsody for clarinet quartet, composed by David Bennett, received especial acknowledgment from the audience. On the fifth of April several members of this group journeyed to Seymour, Indiana, where they appeared before an assembly of high school musicians who had convened to par- ticipate in the Central Indiana Solo and Ensemble Contest. Scheduled to appear early in April, the Conservatory Harp Ensemble, under the supervision of Lynne Wainwright, played before the student body of the high school at Columbus, Indiana, T hey were heard, also, by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. Two weeks later, on the second of April this same ensemble, composed of Mary Louise Houk, Mary Spalding, Mari Wagner, Jeannette Robbins, and June Flaig, appeared in concert at the World War Memorial Audi- torium, and was heard by a large and appreciative audience, whose response marked the program as one of the high lights of the year. During the latter part of the school year several faculty members presented their advanced students in recital. Among these were students of Renato Pacini, violinist; Mary Reynolds and Kathryn McCain, violinists, students of Hugh Mc- Gibney; Richard Foster, oboist, student of Harvey McGuire. Mr. Foster was assisted by a string quartet composed of Kathryn McCain, Virginia Ludwig, Betsy Seitz, and Doris Miller. On the twenty-fifth of April an operetta, composed by Carl A. Dawson, was presented at the Odeon by the Conservatory Philharmonic Choir and the Opera Orchestra. Mr. Dawson is a student of Norman Phelps, instructor in Theory and Composition. Dawson ' s work, skillfully composed and interestingly orchestrated, proved such a success that on a later date it was broadcast from Radio Station WIRE. The major instrumental program of the year was brought to a close during the week of May 5 to 12, with the presentation of the American Festival Program. This annual event, now in its second year, was initiated by Fabien

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Sevitzky in accordance with his reputation as one of the foremost champions of American music. It might be of interest to note that the Indianapohs Sym- phony rated highest in the performance of American music among the orchestras of the country. They played 17.3 per cent of all American music performed. After three evenings devoted to chamber music, opera, choral compositions, and solo performance, the festival was brought to a fitting climax in the final concert given at the Murat Theater and conducted by Mr. Sevitzky. In addition to the portion of the program conducted by Mr. Sevitzky, a high light of the evening, both for the orchestra and the audience, was the presence of one of the outstanding present-day composers, David Van Vactor, who conducted the orchestra in his own composition. Marie Zorn, outstanding member of the Jordan Piano Faculty, needed no introduction to the audience. They remembered all to well her performance when she played the Hadley Concertino with the orchestra at Christmas, 193 9. Miss Zorn demonstrated that she has lost none of the bril- liant technique and superb musicianship that marked her previous appearance. Her flawless playing was greeted with an ovation which indicated that the audi- ence appreciated fully the quality of the work and the interpretation which she gave them. Van Vactor ' s Overture to a Comedy, fairly sparkling with wit and humor, and Dubensky ' s Variation on Stephen Foster Themes, familiar to and loved by all, helped to fill out a well-rounded program that would have pleased the most critical audience. Harl McDonald ' s Choral Symphony, performed by the orchestra and a com- bined chorus of three hundred voices, brought the evening ' s performance to a perfect climax. This final concert of the year proved to be, perhaps, the most successful ever to be given by the orchestra, and the enthusiastic response shown by the audience served as a motivation to high aims and increased efforts in the instrumental program for the coming year. The Orchestra, instead of disbanding after the Spring Concert, remained intact this year for the first time. It provided music for the commencement exercises, and acted as a laboratory for the advanced Conducting Class. In this manner the apprentice conductors were afforded an opportunity to conduct an orchestra of symphonic orchestration and size, and a chance to try in actual practice some of the theories they had been absorbing during the class periods. We, the staff, believe that this is the type of cooperative project that will go far in making Jordan one of the finest schools of its kind in the country. May we suggest that the orchestra might also prove invaluable to the students of orchestration by reading through some of the work done by these students. It is all too difficult to find a group who is willing to help the young orchestrator hear the things he has done. Ve hope that Opus II will be able to point with pride to the fact that this hope has been realized. We also hope to be able to point with pride to a rejuve- nated Band next year. Mr. Munger, and a few of the faithful, labored long and hard this year trying to build a Conservatory Band of the caliber that the school deserves, but to no avail. As the large Chorus serves as a training group for the Choir, so might the Band and a Sight-Reading Orchestra serve as training groups for the Conservatory Symphony. Can we, the students of Jordan, afford to neglect an organization potentially so fine? You will answer that question next year when rehearsals of the Conservatory Band begin. We hope you will show that you are really interested in making the Band an organization of equal quality with the Orchestra.