Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-26
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
It May Be Revived for Concerts Next
Winter

The annual meeting of the shareholders of
the Washington Symphony Orchestra was
held at the Washington College of Music
Friday evening and new board of d.
rectors was chosen. The meeting Of the
shareholders was called to order by Mr..
Hermann Brakeman and Mr.. Sydney Lloyd
-Wfightson was chosen as presiding officer,
in the absence of the president and vice
president. The meeting was, fraught with
moment to the. life of the orchestra and X
Is a question now whether or not the new
board of directors can make a success of
the plans for the organization and main
tenance of the organization next year.
The career of the orchestra has been most
tempestuous. And this has been no fault of
the orchestra or the management thereof,
it is said. Tile people of Washington have
not been as generous toward the institution
as the occasion seemed to demand, 1t is
claimed. The orchestra has been one of
the best institutions of its size and class
in the country and under the direction OF
Mr.. DeKoven 1t attained a high position
in the world of music. The patronage ac-
corded the orchestra has not been what
was promised nor what was expected and
each season has ended with a large deficit
The first business before the meeting FRI
day night was the reading of the report of
Mr.. Eugene z. Stevens, the treasurer of the
organization. According to this report, the
deficit this year is 81, 452.02. The total
amount due the orchestra for unpaid stock
subscriptions and subscriptions for seats
at concerts is $4S6.17 The report of the
treasurer was listened to with great inter-
est and gave the members much food for
thought. However, the showing made has
not unfavorably impressed those interest
ed financially in the project and 1t is de-
clared that a proposition has been adj
yanced whereby $40 600 has been subscribed
for the orchestra next year, but the debts
incurred this year are to be repudlated
This proposition struck many of the mem
bers of the organizat ton as unjust and 1t
was so prominently mentioned that MeSSrS.
Rakemann. Stevens and Wrightson. the sec
rotary, business manager and treasurer,
resigned from the board of directors and re-
fused to accept reelection Mr.. Stevens Of
fered a resolution which stated that In view
of the local situation, as understood by the
shareholders present, 1t was believed that
the orchestra could proceed to arrange for
series of symphony concerts next season
and that the board of directors should be
instructed to take proper action. The
resolution was adopted.
The three members of the board of d.
rectors who resigned have done so simply
because they believe the entire number
of shareholders are not satshed with
their management. 1t might be said that
all of the three members mentioned have
given unlimited time and money to the
orchestra without receiving a cent In re-
turn or single thing that might be called
compensation for their services. They have
worked early and late for the success of
the organiza ton and they believe that they
have not been treated fairly If the PROPOSE
ton for the reputation of the deficit of this
year is permitted to go through 1t Will
mean the virtual saddling of that debt on
those who made it and consequently 1t
throws the burden on the shoulders of the
three gentlemen named more heavily than
on the others because they are the ones
who have been most intimately connected
with the business end of the orchestra's
affairs.
After the reading of the reports and the
acceptance of the designations of Messrs.
Rakemann, Wrightson and Stevens, the
shareholders elected the following board of
directors for the ensuing year:
Herbert Wadsworth, chairman; e Fran
els Riggs j. NJ. Scranage, William A.
Slater. William B. King, George Fl. Gle
ment Col. Henry May, o. G. Sonneck and
William Knabe.
The new board of directors will meet at
the call of the chairman thereof to elect
officers and choose a director for the or
chestra. 1t is understood that Mr.. De-
Koven will again be chosen to direct.