The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-08

MNDAh MAY HAMAlN ER-HEN y Il.
Roanoke has drawn together In the
last few years quite goodly com
pany of musical people, the leaven
that Will tighten the loaf and In time
make the Magic City. after Richmond.
the musical centre of the State.
The most gifted and brilliant. the
most highly cultivated member Of
Roanoke's musical circle is Madam
May Homaker- Heyne. late OF Theatre
pes Westers Berlin. where. for three
years. she sang in grand opera. and
Won by her beautiful voice and ar
ustic singing. warm place in the
affections OF the music-loving public
and high praise from musical critics
Madam Homaker-Heync is also n
hrilliant artist as violinist and pian-
ist' and as woman. is all that could
oe asked in the compromising OF a
musical artist-all save adequate ply
steal strength To meet the nervous
strain incident to a stage career. Not
yet thirty four Madam Heyne has
youth, magnetism, charm-attraction
that is mental. spiritual and physical
she Is vivid in personal appearance
ana temperament. her richness Of
coloring wealth OF auburn tresses.
and expressive brown eyes bespeaking
her warmth Of heart. vivacity OF man
ner and large capacity for feeling
May Homaker--for that was her
name prior TO her marriage born
Of a musical family at Nincenes, In
diana. Musical Instruments were her
play things. and she studied under her
mother and her uncle, Max Brownold
at an early age When nine years
old, She had made such progress with
tho violin that she was received as "A
pupil by Ernest Bauer, of the New
York Philharmonic society, and studied
under Him four years.
Sne then went To Borlin TO study and
was accepted at the Royal High school
OF Music. while only fourteen years
old. although, by rule Of the Institute
students were not admitted under six
teen = few months later. she won a
scholarship Tor four years Instruction
ia the school, from which she gradu-
ated at eighteen. During this time
she studied the violin under tho great
Joachim and Jacobson piano under
Carl Reinecke. and theory
and harmony. history of music en-
semble. tone-s,ience. sight reading
etc. under famous instructors.
Meanwhile. II was discovered that
nature had given to little Miss Ho-
maker the most perfect OF an instru-
ments for the interpretation OF melody
"A voice-and She studied voice under
Mesdames Blanche Careni, Nicklass-
Kempner and hm.lie Herzog. of the
Royal Opera. Berlin.
Among the roles illod by Miss Ho-
maker at Theatre Dos Westers were
Media, in "PagNacci" Marie. in
Daughter OF the Regiment and Vio-
lctta. I'm "Traviata." she also sang
leading role in The Marry Wives OF
Windsor.N
brilliant future spread before the
gifted young American. out the ner-
vous strain Of tine stage told upon her
health and she save 1t up for a
Returning TO America she accepted
q position as director Of the voice
and violin departments Of wilson
College for W omen. at Chambersburg.
Pa. which she held for three years.
Sne then Joined her uncle Max
Brownold Ia Roanoke where she
taught Tor three years, when inc lure
OF ner art led hei again to Sew YORK.
Here she substituted in the cnoirs OF
many OF the biz churcnes and syno-
gogucs for which she was especially
nttcd. Tor the reason that she sings in
Latin. Italian, Hebrew. and German a :
we'll as English. she also sang In
concert at Carnaeie Hall. Mendeisohn
Han, at tho Waldorf Astoria. etc.
winning larlcls as she did abroad.
Albert Mildeubers. composer and head
OF the metropolitan opera school be-
came much Interested IN her voice and
wished her TO so to Milan WIN him
to sing
But again the nervous strain was
too much FOR her health and she de-
cided TO return to Roanoke. putting
ftom her the Milan oncs and her work
ia the Metropolis
Madam Hcyne is an intimate friend
OF Maud Powell. They lived in the
b. ~ II