Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-24
THE FIRST BIG REHEARSAL.
Nearly Five Hundred Members of the
Centennial Chorus SfnR

A grand total Of nearly 500 voices was the
feature Of the first consolidated chorus in
connection with the Capitol centennial cele-
bration at the Metropolitan Presbyterian
Church last evening. and Prof. n. Dushane
Coward. who conducted. was highly pleased
with the success of their efforts
Five choruses met from the following Sec
tons: Northeast J. H. Hunter. director;
Capitol Hill, DIR. F. j. Woodman director;
Anacostia. J. A. Roeder director; Ecking-
ton. William A. Domer. director, and the
southwest, Prof. Godron director.
Four selections were rendered, America >"
TIE Deum.' The Heavens Are Telling
and Home. Sweet Home" with Miss
Wrenn as accompanist There was a large
audience present, the lecture room Of the
church being crowded.
Prof. Coward compiimented the singers
upon the good work they had done, and in
troduced DR.. Frank T. Howe. the chairman
of the committee on chorus, who expressed
his qualification at the excellent progress
the chorus had made. and assured those
present that the musical feature of the ex-
celebration would be the most imposing ard
effective of the whole program. He thank ed
the ladies and gentlemen for their ready re-
Spouse to the call of the committee for a
ductOrs for the energy they had displa yed in
the matter. He also paid a high tribute to
the zeal and ability manifested by Prof.
Coward in arranging the details of assem-
bling the grand chorus.
The rehearsal concluded, Prof. Coward
called attention to the proposition to form
a permanent choral society in this city for
festival singing, such as is feature of Gin
cinnatl and Boston murical work. and the
proposition was unanimously agreed to.
Prof. Clowatd announced that the commit
tee had taken the matter in hand, and had
divided the city into three sections, eastern.
central and northw estern, and officers for
he eastern division were selected as follows
President T. W. Smith; vice president, DR..
F. j. Woodman: secretary, Fred A. Grant;
treasurer, Mrs W. F.. Parsons; assistant
directors, MeSSrs. j. H. Hunter and j. A,
Roeder. and accompanist, Miss Minnie
Bailey.
Prof Coward has been chosen as gen.
eral director of the permanent organiza-
ton, and hopes to make 1t one Of the most
prominent choral societies in the country.
At the rehearsal at Trinity Church, Sd
and streets, last evening Mr.. ]. A. Roeder
conducted in the absence of Prof. Jecko.
Bucks Festival TIE Deum," America" and
Home. Sweet Home" being sung. Thirty
or more were present. among whom were
Misses Simonds and McNickle, Mrs George
Ross, Mrs. William Meyers and Mr. D.. w.
Middleton.
The next rehearsal Of the central division
will be held at the First Congregational
Church tomorrow night and Mr.. Macarthur,
the director, expects to have over a hun
dred In attendance. This is one Of the most
popular of the subdivisions and it Is believed
that its membership will ultimately exceed
200. Mr. Macarthur, the director. Is full of
energy, and says that he intends to MAKE
his the banner section. He wants all who
live within his district, who can sing, to he
present tomorrow night.