Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-19
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
TREASURER DRooP EXPLAINS IT'S
FINANCIAL CONDITION.
Must Have a Guarantee of $12,O0 by
May or the organiza-
ton Dies.

VINO mas Deen lndeIatlSdDle III MS euortS
for its welfare from the very first, in speak
next season. said:
1.-THE question of continuance is simply
financial one. So far-that is to say, for
the two seasons that the orchestra has been
in existence-it has been supported by vol
untary guarantee, the guarantors being
chiefly Mrs. Henry May. Mrs. H. c. Per-
kins, Mrs j. e. Reyburn, Mrs. Herbert
Wadsworth Senator Elkins, Senator Lodge,
Representative Butler Ames, Representa-
tive N. Longworth, Woodbury. Blair. VIM.
Bruce King, Clifford Pinchot, M. G. Secken-
dorf, DR.. Chas. Shepard, Rev. DR.. STAFFORD,
Eugene E. Stevens. Thos. F. Walsh, Com
missioner H. L. West, Elliot Woods and
myself.
1t might be well to state that our first
concert was given in April, 1902, and 1t was
followed by five concerts during the season
Of 1923. We also gave one popular con-
cert, which met with unqualified success.
Our total net losses last season amounted
to 0,160. During the season 1904 we
have given five regular Friday afternoon
concerts, the orchestra has appeared three
times with the Choral Society, once with
the Carroll Institute choir, and eleven popu-
lar Sunday night concerts have been
given-in all twenty appearances of the
ington public, and all this with a deficit
that, / think, from present indications,
will fall trile below that of last year.
year ago expressed the belief that with
another season the Washington public
would appreciate to what perfection the
orchestra had attained. and would attend
the performances more generally because
of the certainty of qualification. This
opinion has been verified. The regular
subscription for the first season was less
than 500 per concert, put the regular SUD-
scription for the second symphony season
was over 81, 100 per concert. The average
total receipts during the first season per
concert were about $1,000, whereas this sea-
son the average total receipts for the reg
ular concerts were nearly $l,lOO. rms Or
chestra has been of the greatest benefit.
not alone to Our citizens generally, but to
Washington's professional musicians. The
history Of symphony orchestras elsewhere
shows them in every instance to be an ex-
pensive luxury. 1t may be we'll to explain
here why a guarantee fund Is necessary
for our symphony concerts. In It's pres
ent musical condition Washington cannot
assimilate more than given number or
concerts of this class of music which has
been so far found to be five. These con-
certs must be distributed through the en-
tire season, and in order to give them II
is necessary, under existing conditions, 10
bring certain musicians to Washington who
must have regular guaranteed weekly
salary This increases the expenses SO
enormously in proportion to the number OF
concerts given that even were every seat
In the house sold for each performance
there would still remain a considerable
deficit, and 1t is to cover this that a guar.
antee fund is necessary. 1t is to be hoped
that in the course of years, as washington
grows, by careful administration OF the
finances and by increasing the number OF
concerts, this deficit can be materially re-
duced When the orchestra is On such "a
basis that it can travel and give concerts
elsewhere it is reasonable to ANTICIPATE
hot q
'In presenting these few facts must not
forget to lay stress upon the debt OF graft
tude which all those who are interested IN
music in the national capital owe TO MT.
De Koyen. 1t is entirely due to his energy,
influence and untiring devotion that the
orchestra exists today. He has given. ms
time unseldShly, not only to the musicai
part Of the orchestra, but has personally
sunerintended most of the details of Or
ganiZation and administration. without
any thought of remuneration OF any klnd
whatsoever he has devoted himself Freely
in the various fields Of labor just mem
toned / believe it is safe to say that the
orchestra could not have continued with
out his public-spirited devotion.
'.Recognzing the absolutely artistic value
of the orchestra. as shown by It's concerts
and recognizing the fact that the capital of
the nation should have a permanent body
of this Sort and further that its continu-
ance may lead to important musical de-
velopments of a national character, such
as a national conservatory of musician
institution much needed-on behalf of the
committee I have invited the general public
to support the committee in its endeavor
to place this orchestra on a permanent
footing. The whole music-loving public
should have an interest in this movement,
and therefore the support must in the end
depend on the general public No sum Is
too small to show that interest, and there
fore I wish to give notice that subscription
lists for the guarantee fund have been
opened at my place of business, 92o Penn
sylyania avenue.
"In conclusion 1 will say that all the
guarantees expire this season, and it there
fore becomes necessary to raise this fund
Immediately If the orchestra Is to continue
at all. l must know by the LIST of May
what amount will have at my disposal for
next seasons work. To continue properly
we must have a guarantee fund Of at least
$12, 900; more ambitious plans have been
outlined for next season, which means more
orchestral music for Washington. l have
opened the subscription list for seats for
next seasons concerts, and l can only say
that everybody who has an interest should
contribute whatever amount they can-no
matter how small-for failure to provide
this fund sounds the death knell of orches-
trail music in Washington for many years
to come Already the subscriptions are be-
ing made in an encouraging manner, and l
believe that the Washington public will not
let this splendid organization die