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

Page 23 text:

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

Page 22 text:

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-

Page 24 text:

December 11, was not begun until the latter part of November. The highly cred- itable and well-accepted performance of the orchestra on that night left us proud in the conviction that our orchestra under the constant guidance of Dr. Sevitzky and his assistant, Leon Zawisza, will continue to strive toward those standards of achievement which, from the standpoint of performance, label it as highly pro- fessional. Early in the second semester the orchestra again had occasion to take part in a celebration, this time, the local observance of the President ' s Birthday Ball held in the Butler Fieldhouse on January thirtieth. Following this appearance. Dr. Se- vitzky and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra were on tour in the middle west and in the eastern states. Consequently the members of the Conservatory Or- chestra had a much needed rest. Upon the return of Dr. Sevitzky, work was begun on the program to be pre- sented as the final performance during the Third Festival of American Music. This concert, given at the Murat Theatre on the ninth of May, proved to be per- haps the most successful concert of the year. A large audience attended and the hearty response indicated their approval of all that had been achieved by the or- chestra during the endless hours spent in intensive and exacting rehearsals. Among the highlights of the evening were Marie Zorn ' s brilliant interpretation of Edward MacDowell ' s Concerto No. 2 for pianoforte and orchestra, and the performance by orchestra and chorus of The Peace Pipe, a cantata for mixed chorus, baritone solo and orchestra, composed by Frederick S. Converse. The baritone solo was sung by Earl Albertson, whose talent as a soloist immediately won recognition. Other numbers included on the concert were Henry Fiadley ' s Overture, In Bohemias; MacDowell ' s Sea Pieces, orchestrated by Lionel Barrymore at the re- quest of Mr. Sevitzky, and two compositions by John Alden Carpenter, Song of Faith and Song of Freedom. The string orchestra concluded the year ' s activities with its appearance on June fifth at commencement exercises. Dr. Sevitzky conducting.