Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-08
NOZART'S GOOD WORK
What Tie Association Has Done 10
Advance Interest In h.SiC.
,oxc AND ENvIABLE RECORD.
.,,.,or, of ~, Formation Twenty
,.,rs AGO aud story Of Its Growth.
The Orchestrn's org"ni1"hon--
taking on New Life.

exercising an influence on tne
-.ss ana development OF music 90
ntv mat is dimcult TO estimate.
location is the exomO.ncation OF
d.. rr3ycrb that small beginnings lead
-.,t results. for this great orsan.za-
which has commanded the atten-
rot a.one OF the Richmond people,
,f musical circles throughout the
n and breadth of the country.
.. nom a smaI social circle known
.y.e Richmond HoruD,es.'
D.une iis career the association has
...r,a amongst its members ali VINO
. been prominen1 IN the mUs,ca'
...f Richmond. IL has gwen an i'm
to musical ambition boy allowing
~ Us Platform only accomplished mu-
and by onering such Inducements
..I amateurs. from time TO time. as
calculated to spur them on to
....t,r EFFORT The association has mad
.scatiNe ten0ency by introducing
.rs of repute ana artisus whose
. .fta.nmen.s have maze them word
". Yfey have, too. erected the
-r.,.rt Academy. which VIII always be
-..s as monument TO their zeai
me welfare and advancement Of
...I culture and OF their great enter
luse -
ITS ORGANIZATION.
rr. Richmond Mozart Association was
r.l.l on April "a, 1876, IN the second
a- u tine building on the southeast
...r 10. Fourth and Broad streets by
a.. lection OF The following officers:
..rraI bradley T. Johnson, president;
DID, a. Lubbock. vice-president; Il. Court
..r Jenkins. treasurer. and W. Upshur
r.-. secretary. The Board of Govern
-. elected consisted of Edward Mayo,
John ID Redford. Or. W. Leigh Burton,
...m A. Jenkins. II. w. Lubbock. w.
r,.ru- Bass General Bradley r. John
.r Ia w. Blunt. 5. Sprigg Campbell.
b a. Hoen. Henry 4. Miller. and L.
courtney jenkins.
on le l6.h Of December. 1876 the as
ISOLATION was Incorporated by the Circuit
Court ~ the city Of Richmond, the fol-
living names appearing In the applca-
..r. William A jenkins +. Courtney
Jenkins Bradley T. Johnson, Henry T.
Miller and Henry W. Lubbock. The
crrnal membership having been only
f.rteen. q steady increase began, which
fnlIy necessi;ated a move 10 Main street,
afar the Mozart became a Joint Occu-
rant o. the hall in the Grant building,
with The Young Mems Christian AssO-
cation Here the orchestra was consid
f-ahiy enlarged and here it was that the
Professional musicians first received COM
ssrsati0n. In about two years a rapidly
Increasing membership made It necessary
f1r the association TO seek more commO-
deus quarters, when a movement was
made for the acquisition Of Assembly
Han" on Eighth street which. from a
- 80 4 t~st.
place Of amusement. This having been
seclrel and several thousand dollars
expended in repairs, II became The MO
zsrf Hall" and the musicales held there
gave the Mozart Association a reputa-
fnn throughout the entire length and
breadth Of the country. The large MEM
barshiD OF the association in Mozart Hall.
enabled 10 10 undertake more ambitious
work than IT had dared TO face in the
rset. and Il was here that the first steps
were taken towards the formation OF
amateur choruses and the production Of
operas under the direction Of Mr.. Charles
7 Se'gel The attractions greatly in
creased the popularity of the Mozart.
BUILDING OF THE ACADEMY.
IT, was about this time that the con-
fruction Of the new Academy OF Music
vas seriously contemplated. The first or
ranized movement was made I'm this direc-
ion when. at a meeting Of the board held
r October 1850 "A committee from the
board and one from the members was
Amounted. Gin order that by joint con-
ference some plan may be devised for
rurchasing a lot and erecting a suitable
building thereon" This joint committee,
90 seems. failed TO make q report until the
owing year. at which time the plan
reported fell through. and In June, lss2,
no q meeting Of the Board Of Governors,
another committee was appointed con-
s-firg Of Colonel William T. Tanner,
NJ T. William Pemherton. Colonel Archer
Anderson. and Mr.. Thomas Potts, TO
commend a plan. These gentlemen at
frs' favored the issuing OF &5 bonds
hearing per cent interest. redeemable
l twenty years. and as the lot on which
fha building stood had been leased In
APRIL Of that year for ninety-nine years
90 cave 80 optional TO build on IL or some
other. BY a further report made by this
-tras committee In November. 1882. 1t
recommended the securing Of 'llfe-mem-
larsn.ps' al 800 each. and In case a
sufficient sum should not be raised by
ttis means 10 issue bonds bearing per
cent interest for the balance. Circulars
tmboiyng this scheme were sent TO MEM
oers. and some canvassing done on this
BASIS. but as a sufficient amount was not
assured the scheme was finally aban-
s0ned
Here. Il may be said the Opera House
scheme" had a good rest. for it was not
until June, lSS3 that another committee
on the subject was appointed. This con-
sisted OF Messrs. Il +. Whitlock. Thomas
W. Pemh rton Charles l.. Siegel. A. Bar
ssmln. and John Tyler. and they were /
Invested with 'plenary powers" 70 raise |
te money and proceed with the work /
of construction. This committee pro-
posed purchasing the lot on the corner |
9, Main and Sixth streets for SIG 500. and |
rec mmended that the public spirited and /
liberal people Of Richmond should give /
as tte money 10 buy this OF" But they 1
wouldn't DO il. and this scheme failed.
HIT UPON a PLAN.
70 win thus be seen that during period /
extending over four years committee /
otter committee had been appointed. and I
nothing accomplished in the direction OF /
obtaining what the Mozart most desired /
new music han. Finally. at meeting /
~ thc Board OF Governors, held December /
g. 1854. a financial plan TO build the hall |
was submitted and unanimously endorsed /
and which proved 10 be the one so sue ess-
f1ly carried out.
To Colonel Samuel y. Paul. long a faith
iil officer OF the association, undoubted- /
D. belongs the honor Of origin ting and /
carrying 20 a successful end this plan.
DIE was assisted in his work OF devotion
y New Hall-Building Committee"
consisting Of Messrs. A. Bargamin. c. l..
oeisel Horace =. Edmonds. and DR..
James b. McCaw.
80 "a meeting Of the Board OF Govern
or. held on the 2Sih OF 5 ptember. 1850
iAe initIatory steps were taken for the
i'fmatIon Of an amateur orchestra. The