New-York tribune., 1895-12-22
BUILDING FOR MUSIC WANTED
MRS rHURBER's PLANS FOR THE Ma
TIONAL CONSERVATORY.
SHE TELLS WHAT THE INSTITUTION HAS "O
CoMpIJsHEp AND THE BASIS ON WHICH

SHE TELLS WHAT THE INSTITUTION HAS Ac-
CoMpLrsHrp AND THE BASIS ON WHICH
IT Is RUN.
Mrs. Jeanette NJ. Thurber is taking steps to Sc
cure a permanent home for the National Conserva-
tow, ~ Nusic For this purpose she intends to erect
n large and suitable building for the adequate ac-
commodation of the conservatorys work In re-
cent interview she said:
The underlying idea of the National ConserVa-
tory of Music is to do for musical education IN ths
country what has been done in other branches. ana
to render II unnecessary for Americans of talent
TO go abroad to secure a musical education OF the
highest order at reasonable cost Musical talent
exists in abundance: talent which IL trained wouiu
confer honor on country and competency on
its possessors: and yet In this broad land when
lea DIS the world In its educational expenditures. and
where many universities have been maRnincently
endowed by private muniiicence. this branch, ike
Topsy has Just growed. and until the National
Conservatory of Music was established, there was
no adequate provision made for higher musical edu-
cation
How long ago did you begin entertaining the
idea OF musical instruction" Mrs. Thurber was
then asked.
For more Than twenty years / have studied this
problem and have done what could to solve It,
l remember attending meeting called by Henry u.
Marquand Horace Fry, and Rush {. HAWKINS IN
1884 10 try resuscitate the bequest OF the late
Matters We're involved however. that nothing
available was left: and on the advice of the late
August Belmont il was decided TO start my original
idea and try TO organize a truly National CohserN-
atory Of Music. A few ladies and gentlemen inter-
ested In musical education met al Demonicos on
October 27. 1885, to listen to plan proposed Tor
the organization of an American school OF opera.
The nlan was approved and the school was in
corporated Quarters found in the building In
East Seventeenth-st. where the institution still Is
Later. when departments for instruction In all
branches Of orchestral music were added, the title
was changed to the National Conservatory OF Music
of America the one IL now bears.
Beg ming with eighty four pupils, the conserva-
tory has now 6Sl. and these represent much higher
order of talent. for the exanHatolls IoI dunissoi
are far more rigid and the proportioh rejected
much larger In the ten years OF ITS existence over
two thousand pupils have left the conservatory iu
equipped to become teachers and many OF them
artists. commanding high salaries o, -
Have the conditions for the execution or sucn a
Plan improved during that time, and If so, to what
extent and in what particular direction t.
There has undoubtedly been steady growth in
musical knowledge but far as the recognition OF
its needs the part of patrons of education is CON
cerned / regret TO say that II has not met my eX-
pectations One great triumph has been the rec?gni-
ton by Congress of the Natona. importance OF the
work by its grant of National charter 10 our
Mrs Thurber said she thought that possibly we
were at in conflicting National musical tenden-
cies imported from Europe. Il think 1t is in large
measure due to our indifference as nation IN re-
giving this much thought determined TO try an l
overcome 1t by securing a great master III -tl-
tonn Dvorak, a genius transcendent ana cdtho-
lie that he could overlook all prejudice. to come to
this country. and assume the directOrshp OF 4
truly National school of music. do not cease TO
regret that family reasons have deprived America
of the services Of A genius who while here com
posed the symphony From the New World. when
will always endear him to America. . ~
Does study abroad by American pupils sun pay
as important part in National musical tenden-
cies as II did say. five years ago.? D.,
Study abroad does not play so large part as IL
did. If the patrons of music would be as patrotc
as the patrons of other branches OF education going
abroad for a musical education would be thing
of'the past" , ,, l,n,.
What part does and will, the National Conserva-
tory of Music play, and what your present plans
for developing the institution? - ,
'"The foundation of great National schooi OF
music has been laid broad and deep. The want is
constantly more and more apparent. and. with the
growth of wealth in our great country, nave laItn
that scholarships and bequests VIII come MY present
plan is to provide,a suitable building, which shali
be a permanent home for the National Conservatory
of Music. have already taken the frst steps IN
this direction, and l sure my EFFORTS VIII De
seconded by all who believe in making the songs
of the country rather than its laws"