Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-30
CARROLL INSTITUTE CHOIR.
Its First Concert Last Night Was a
Splendid Success.

Seldom, If ever, has there been a more
satisfied and contented audience than that
which filled to overfiowing the hall or the
Carroll Institute last night to listen to the
first concert of the Carroll Institute choir
of one hundred voices. Every person who
contributed either of their labor or means
to the success of this organization felt well
repaid for their expenditures after the first
number of the thirteen that composed the
program was concluded. The singing or
the people Mrs Clara Baker Smith mas
trained for this choir was remarkable IN
many ways. The choruses were magnlncent,
the tone shading almost perfect. To those
who heard the grand swell Of human voices
as it rose in the first few bars of the Kyrie
from Rossni's mass, ''Sollennelle," the har-
mony and absolute perfection of the d.
rectorship and training was revelation IN
the art of music and musicians. The whole
effect was that of a grand organ played by
a master hand. There was not faulty note
or a single break in the harmonious en-
semble. But the chorus was rot the only
feature. Sixteen soloists gathered from the
most prominent churches in the District
were presented, and with one or two excep-
tons sang as they have never been known
to sing before The program contained
thirteen numbers, of which seven were from
the Rossiui mass and six were selected from
the great mass of sacred music by Gounod
Mendelssohn. Gilsinn, Kline, Buck and
others. There were three quartets, one trio,
gram, and with one exception were all rem
dered in a style that Is seldom heard here
or anywhere else. After hearing concert
such as was that of last night wonder is
expressed as to- where these people have
been singing that one has ever been
able to get them together with such fine
effect. The bright particular stars OF the
evening were Mrs. Blanche Mattingly
Rogers, Mrs Annie Grant Fugitt and Mr..
John A. Finnegan. Mr.. Finnegan has been
in this city but a short time, and is the
tenor soloist at ST Johns Church He has
a remarkable voice. pure tenor with great
power and volume yet clear and sweet
Mr. Fiunegan sang Fear Ye Not, o Israeli
with perfect ease and no effort The only
disappointing feature about his voice lies
in the fact that he has not yet mastered all
the little details of execution that can only
be secured through a thorough course or
training.
The work Of the two sopranos mentioned
Mrs. Rogers and Mrs. Fugitt-was pleasing
throughout. The former is the soprano So
loist at St. Aloysius, and the latter holds
the same position at St Patrick's. Their
voices different in tone and are suited
to different classes of music so there can
be little comparison between them. They
are both well known however. and acquit-
ted themselves with great credit last night.
Aside from the work OF the three soloists
mentioned the best number Of the evening
was Ave Regina Caelorum," quartet and
chorus. by Kline. The remarkable work
in this number was in the handling of the
singers trained to fine point, and the re-
suits she obtains are simply marvellous In
this number Mr.. Anton Kaspar played a
violin accompaniment in addition to the
acccmpa niment played on the piano and
organ. 1t was in this number also that the
quartet had the least to do. The soloists,
besides those already mentioned, were
Miss Jessie Tabler, who has voice of ex-
cellent volume, and who exercises the most
complete control over it, and who is the
contralto scloist at Hamline M. E. Church;
Mr. Charles Goodchild, the bass soloist at
st. Patrick's Church, who has a voice of
fine quality; Mr. Charles E. Myers. who ia
too well known to need any comment or
introduction, and his singing was unusually
well known local baritone
The members Of the Carroll Institute
ch0r come from the following churches.
st. Aloysius,, st. AIMS. Calvary Baptist,
st. Johns Episcopal, St. Mary's. St. Mat
thews, st. Patrick's, ST. Paul's, st. PauTs
Episcopal, st. Peters Sacred Heart ST. Ste
phens and St Teresa's, and include the
gift, soprano solcist, St Patrick's: Mrs.
Blanche Mattingly Rogers soprano solo
lst st. Aloysius'; Miss Margaret WEIGH,
loist Hamline; Miss Nellie O'Hare, contraIto
st. Aloysius'; Miss Lucy Smith, contralto'
st. Patrick's; Mr.. c. E. Meyers, tenor Sc
ioist, st. Aloysius'; Mr.. John A. Finnexan
tenor soloist, st. Johns Episcopal: Mr. Jno
c. Wiedman, tenor so'oist, ST. Paui's Eptsco-
pal; Mr. r. c. Ralinger, tenor; Mr.. Chas. F
Goodchild. bass soloist st. Patrick's; Mr.
FRANK Rebstock bass soloist ST. Mary's:
Mr.. T. A. Murray. bass; Mr.. Cy. Cummings
bass soloist, st. AIMS; Mr.. c. " Bechtel
baritone soloist, st. AIMS; pianist, Mr.
Arthur d: Mayo; organist, Mr.. Erich o.
Rath; vtolinist, Mr.. Anton Kaspar.
1t is not know when the choir will give
another concert. but it is confidently hoped
tnat 1t Will be SOON as good music is rare
at this season of the year, and this choir
gives about the best that has been heard
choir are Mr. p c. ]. Treanor, 1928 PennsvI-
vania avenue southeast president; Mr.. w
II. De Lacy. 1912 9Th street northwest, vice
president; Mr.. A. Zappone 2222 LIST street
northwest, secretary and treasurer: M
w. II. Lepley 467. H street northwest. IL
brartan; Mrs. Clara Baker Smith, 1922 9th
street northwest, musical directress: Mr.
Arthur D. Mayo, 1416 Rhode Island ave
nue., accompanist
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