The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-20
MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
Western Maine Musical Association
Formed Saturday.

In the office of Ardon W. COMBS ESQ.,.
there was organized, Saturday, the West
ern Maine Musical association. This Is
the result Of the effort among the singers
and others interested In the Maine must
cal festivals to put them on sound
financial basis, so that the people of
Maine may be guaranteed continuance
of this important musical event year
after year. The plan adopted, IL is be-
to MIR. Chapman to enable him to go on
with the work he has so successfully be-
gun. 1he,by-laws of the new association
provide that in addition 10 the charter
members the director of each local
chorus in TIE festival shall he member
of the association. The general diree-
tion of the festivals is to be In the hands
OF the officers of the association, but the
by laws provide that the musical direc-
tor shall have entire char &c of the seleo-
ton of the music, the making of the pro-
grammes and the engagement of the
artists, and the orchestra for all concerts,
but any contracts made by him with such
musical artists and orchestra shall
bind himself only and he snail not have
authority to bind the association there
for. He shall consult with the executive
com mittee as to the date on which the
musical festival shall be held, which
dates shall be fixed by the executive COM
mittee.'
In order to provide way to meet
losses, the bylaws contain a provision
which makes the local ohoruses Ii bic to
an assessment of one dollar for eaoh
member. ill II festival should result in a
deficit, an assessment would thus be levied
and the money applied 10 the deficit,
II it was not sufficient to meet the losses,
It Will be noticed that the liability OF
the association ends when 1t has put into
the fund its assessments. for it Is stipu
lated that the contracts with the artists
and orchestra, which are the heavy liza.
billties Of the venture, shall not be bind
ing on the association. The musical di-
rector is elected for term of five years
and he is to have a salary of $500 anu
% per cent Of the net profits. In other
words the arrangement is that II MIR.
Chapman loses money the association will
help him out to the exteut of dollar a
mem Der II necessary. If he makes money
he is to have 20 per cent of the profits.
MIR. Chapman's salary would of course
be a liability and II the festival met the
other expenses and did not earn enough
to pay the salary the assessment might
then be- levied TO make up the amount of
the salary, so that MIR. Chapman will
have some assurance that his months OF
hard work will result in some return,
At the meeting on Saturday, the asso
organized with the following
members: Edward A. Moves. AL
bert 5. Woodman, Frederick k. Boothby,
John NJ Gould apd Ardon w. Coombs of
Portland. stephen Z. Whitmore of
Brunswick and Irving f. True of Var
mouth. MIR. Coombs acted as chairman
OF the meeting. and MIR. woodman as
clerk. The following were elected ad.
ditional charter members: W. 0. Fuller.
Jr., of Rookland. Murray H. Watson of
Auburn, IA. Il. Horne of Norway, Arthur
l.. Varney of Bethel and John S. Hyde
of Bath. The following officers were
elected:
President-Edward A. Noyes,
Vice President-Murray b. Watson.
Clerk-Albe ;. Woodman.
Treasurer-John hi. Gould.
Musical Director-Willian K. Chap
man.
Executive Committee-Frederio +.
Boothby. Stephen G. Whitmore, Albert
S. Woodman, III. l.. Howe, Edward A.
Noves