Irving School - Sketch Book Yearbook (Tarrytown, NY)

Page 123 text:

ff g IRVINQ srgizrgu Boo - . f 2- ..,,,-gf fa- - ,H i rg' .J Orchestra This year was one of unique record, as far as an orchestra was con- cerned. About a week after school opened a vain search was made for a good pianist,-out of one hundred and thirty boys not one could play well enough to begin immediate work on a dance orchestra. It was John Richardson, however, Who after several weeks of tedious practice deemed himself capable of undertaking the task of playing the piano and leading the orchestra. Material was rounded up and work begun. The result being a pre- sentable organization consisting of: Piano fDirectorJ ,.,...........,........ ....... J ohn Richardson Violin ......,................ ..... R ichard Thomson Banjo ........... ...... ........ W i llis Hutchins Saxophone .,.... ...... C ountenay Bennett Saxophone ...... ............ N eil Clifton Trombone ....... ..,.. A lbion Eckert Trumpet ...... ,....,., O wen Ryder Trumpet ...... ...... J ohn Kilborn Drums ...... ,... ...... . . . ..... Edmund Abbott This year there were no tea dances at which the Irvonians might play so they really had no actual experience other than rehearsals. It cannot be said, however, that no effort was made to organize this branch of school life for certainly the Director did his best. We hope most sincerely that in the future there shall be no such ab- sence of jazz material for it undoubtedly has its effect on the student body. There is hardly anything so capable of stirring up enthusiasm as a good orchestra and this year was most assuredly a slack season that is bound to occur in the best of families. Much credit is due to these boys who were willing to lend their efforts to form an orchestra-it is only an unfortunate circumstance that pre- vented possibly the best music ever heard from a group of Irving fellows gathered to entertain their school-mates. 'Hx I ,se if . w i? Page one himdred twenty one