The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-05-23
REPORT
Of the First Season of the Peoples
 Choral Union

was organized last January along tn,
 lines on Frank Damroschs Choral In
 ion in New York city, aimed to give ar
 opportunity for choral singing, withou
 distinction, to all who desired it, a
 such a moderate membership fee that
 none need feel debarred on that ac.
 count. It aimed also to give a public lconcert at which two free tickets should
 be given to each member, and at which l such prices, as prevail in Germany al similar concerts should be charged | These purposes the Choral union has | fulfilled with greater success than was even hoped. In response to the invita-
 tions, which were given out in most of the factories, department stores and I places of business, there appeared about five hundred applicants, of whom many of course had to be refused. In
 spite of the natural shrinkage conse- quent on a long season, nearly four ! hundred sang at the final concert. | About eight hundred complimentary | tickets were given out for the concert at the Music Hall on April 30, so that l the number of paid admissions was ne- l cessarily much reduced. The price of twenty-five cents was rigidly adhered | to for the few hundred tickets which remained to be sold The expenses of the season were not small; the pur-
 chase or rent of the music for over four hundred was large item also the hall rental and the enlargement of the stage at the Music Hall, etc. That the union with membership fee of only fifteen cents month could with these expenses show small balance at the
 end of the season. and an entire free
 dom from debt, without touching pen- ny of the very small guarantee fund, is certainly cause for congratulation. This could only have been brought about by the generosity of those who have unselfishly contributed their ser vices, as in the case of the conductor, the accompanist and the teacher of the sight-reading classes, and also those who have given reduced rent to hals, the free use of piano and hall for hight-reading classes, and the kindness and cooperation of ali who have been interested in this undertaking. Besides the rehearsals of the Choral union 'propetly, there have been held each week since January sight reading classes in Steinert Hall (useds by the kind permission of MT. Steinert), taught by Miss Williams, an experienced teacher, familiar with the Damrosch method; at these classes one hundred and twenty have been enrolled, and have attained a degree of facility with the movable do system, in reading mu- sic in any key, and in the singing of two-part songs. From these singing classes many will be ready to be suc- cessfully examined for admission into the Choral union at it's next season. It is believed that this organization has filled a real want in the life of the city. To large number of the chorus the weekly rehearsals have been one of the pleasantest and most profitable events of the winter To many of the thirteen who heard the Music Hall con- cert such singing of such musrc was a pleasure never before enjoyed and was made possible by the free tickets and the popular price of admission. It was gratifying that the union so early in it's career should have had the opportunity of singing before the Music Teachers association with orchestral accompanl- ment It is also gratifying that the should have inspired so much interest among so many people The mayor expressed great interest in it because it was music for the people, by the people" the musicians and Gou- nod singers because of it's new constit- which was ample assurance that l it could in no sence be rival for that more experienced and justly celebrated 1 body of singers, those who are interest," ed in the musical department of the un- l iversity because of its possibilities. To | all who have the true interests of the | music of New Haven at heart, such an | enterprise as the Peoples Choral union | cannot fail to win interest and appro- val.
 REPORT OF THE PEO-
 PLIES CHORAL UNION FOR THE
 SEASON OF 1901-t902.
 Receipts.
 q ,f nt,N |