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

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outstanding sunrise service with our own Mr. Lautner directing the early morning risers. Afterwards, while elbowing my way through the seething mass of people, I heard many complimentary remarks concerning the choir: I didn ' t know such a small group of singers — there could hardly be more than thirty — could work up such great volume. Yes, and so clear and musical, too. And elsewhere in the crowd: I heard every word the choir sang and I was way back, too! Did Mr. Lautner organize that wonderful choir? Later the same day the choir was again scheduled to sing — this time for the Christian Men Builders ' Bible Class at the Zaring Theatre. This perfoiTnance was also broadcast. One of the men backstage at the theatre whispered to me that they looked forward to this program every year. He had been out in the audience part of the time and remarked to me later that he had never seen such a beautiful pic- ture. The choir, again in their royal purple and golden robes, stood in the center of the small stage, while on either side of them were banks of green foliage. A soft red light trained upon them from the footlights reflected against a shim- mering grey curtain background. Philharmonic Choir life is brilliant and varied, don ' t you agree? It leads from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again. We sincerely hope that this worthy organization will continue to strive towards higher and higher fields of musical endeavor remaining an institution of musical perfection which we at A. J. C. rightly can be proud to acclaim.

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Just before Christmas the choir gave a concert at Terre Haute. A human interest story to go with it: It seems that after singing a most excellent program at the Zorah Temple there, each and every member enjoyed a tempting lunch at the Chicken in the Rough. But we wonder what happened to the two who were missing and unaccounted for upon the choir ' s return to Indianapolis — Marjorie Loertz and Jean Vickery! Not even the Philharmonic Choir is immune to keeping late hours. The report is that they finished caroling at three o ' clock Christmas morning. A rousing greeting to the Christmas of 1941, no? A versatile group of singers we ha ve in the Philharmonic. On the thirtieth of December they sang a group of folk songs in French, German, Italian, and English for the Modern Language Convention banquet at the Claypool Hotel. We wonder when the choir members do their daily breathing — two concerts in one evening! But that ' s not all! They made it from the Scottish Rite Cathedral to the Severin Hotel (and were ready to sing, too) in fifteen minutes. The concert at the Scottish Rite was by far the most impressive program of the year. As the huge curtain opened there was revealed a breath-taking stage setting greatly enhanced by footlights of ever-changing colors and intensity. A subdued glow, gradually increasing until it had reached a brilliant, glorious and almost heavenly light, formed a perfect background for the series of religious selections sung by the choir. Another rush order was filled on the night of January thirtieth at the Indian- apolis Athletic Club. Turning versatile again, the choir sang in another foreign language — this time Hebrew. One of the greatest expressions of appreciation that ever has been conferred upon the choir was the response which they received at this concert. After they had finished singing and were leaving the ramps, the entire audience stood and applauded until long after the choir had made its exit. The choir was given an opportunity to do its part for defense, too. After singing for the Skippers ' wedding anniversary on February first, the singers grabbed their little suitcases, boxes, and trunks (choir robes, you know), dashed for buses and cars and headed for Fort Benjamin Harrison — nice program, too. On February twenty-third at the Spink-Arms Hotel, Indiana composers were honored — among them, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lautner. Along with several selections by the choir, Lloyd Patten sang two numbers, one, a song written by the Lautners and the other, an aria from Carl Dawson ' s operetta, Cinderella. On Easter morn just as the sun had risen high enough in the sky to send its ribbon-like rays of dazzling light streaming down upon the throng gathered in Monument Circle the air was filled with the sound of voices singing, Hal — le-lu- jah! With the last phrase of the Hallelujah from Handel ' s Messiah, ten thousand people sat entranced in front of the Indianapolis Soldiers ' and Sailors ' monument. The Philharmonic Choir had just sung the closing number to an

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THE GONDOLIERS By Gilbert and Sullivan The success of The Gondoliers, the first performance of the Jordan Civic Operetta Guild, has made Indianapolis theatre-goers cognizant of the fact that there is plenty of good local talent in the field of music and dramatics. Rehearsals began early in October. Everyone in the cast gave up personal activities in order to attend hours of rehearsals, but all were sorry when the final curtain dropped on the eighteenth of April. Charles Hedley, chairman of the Conservatory voice department, founded the Jordon Civic Operetta Guild, and directed as well as appeared in The Gondoliers. The story is concerned with two handsome Gondoliers, both of whom have just taken brides. One of the two is supposed to be the lost King of Barataria, married in infancy to the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Plaza-Toro. While the rightful king and queen is being discovered a lot of fun is had by all. The cast and performers included the following people: Duke of Plaza-Toro, Carroll Reynolds; Luiz, Lloyd Patten; Don Alhambra del Bolero, Louis Candedo; Marco Palmieri, Charles Hedley; Giuseppe Palmieri, John Phillips; Antonio, Ralph Leonard; Francesco, John Hener; Giorgio, Theodore Rolf; Annibale, Alan Ham- blen; The Duchess of Plaza-Toro, Irma Brady; Casilda Plaza-Toro, Mary Esther Guidone; Gianetta, Carol Geisler; Tessa, Lillie Shaw; Fiametta, Caroline Battin; Bittoria, Dorene Stephens; and Inez, Frances Brinkman. Gondoliers and peasant girls were portrayed by Roberta Asa, Mary Anne Beaumont, Ralph Broke, Bernice Butler, Frederick Ferree, Jack Henry, Rose Houk, Frank Jackson, Joe Jordan, Rosalie Kellermeyer, Bettie Long, Gloria Monninger, Nancy Morrison, Edward Payne, Robert Ramsey, Martha Rose Spaulding, Jacqueline Sundt and Martha Thompson.