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

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ik THE CONSERVATORY ORCHESTRA Dr. Fabien Sevitzky Director of Orchestra Department THE CONSERVATORY ORCHESTRA The metallic tapping of a baton against the conductor ' s stand could be heard above the chatter and laughter that filled the room. Eighty-five young musicians hurried to their seats. There was a moment of complete silence as the conductor looked about the orchestra, as though trying to distinguish between the many new and old faces that greeted him, and then — Good evening. Yes, it was Dr. Sevitzky back again to conduct the Jordan Conservatory Orchestra. The first rehearsal of the year always is an event to which both old and new members look forward. To the old it means the beginning of another year of in- tense but enjoyable and worthwhile rehearsal and study of the best in past and present-day orchestral literature. To the new perhaps it is their first opportunity to play in an orchestra of full symphonic proportions. To all, both old and new members, it means contact and friendly association with others of hke interests and ambitions. As in former years the full orchestra was scheduled to rehearse on Monday eve- nings and sectional rehearsals were to be held on Wednesday and Thursday after-

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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.

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noons. In connection with this we should Hke to point out that much credit for the success of the orchestra this year should go to Leon Zawisza, who was in charge of many of the Monday night rehearsals, and all of the sectionals where most of the dirty work was done. Among others, his tasks were those of per- suading the fiddles to bow, all, in a somewhat uniform southeasterly to north- westerly direction while tracing those alarming dissonances to the players in the woodwind section, who insisted on playing an A clarinet part on a B Flat clarinet without employing that annoying but practical device known as trans- position. We salute Mr. Zawisza for his understanding, patient and capable assistance which was of such merit that by the middle of September the orchestra, assisted by the Philharmonic Choir, was able to accept an invitation to play before the American Bar Association. Dr. Sevitzky conducted the final rehearsals and under his direction this first concert of the year was presented at the Scottish Rite Cathedral on the night of September twenty-ninth. On October fifth the services of the orchestra were in demand again and the second concert of the year was given at the Murat Theatre as a part of the twenty- second annual Indianapolis Community Fund Campaign. Following the concert, the orchestra broadcast a short program over several local radio stations. In former years the orchestra had not been scheduled to make any appearances during the early part of the year and consequently a considerable amount of the time could be spent in rehearsing for the Christmas Concert. This year, however, due to the time required in preparation for the foregoing mid-semester appear- ances, intensive rehearsing for the Christmas Concert, to be held at the Murat on