The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-30

The complaint that a music student
must go away from home to study be-
cause of a lack of opportunity canno,
with impunity be charged against Bir.
mingham. for not only is there at present
a splendid musical personelle here but
each season adds other stars to the gal
axy, drawn hither by the fine prospects
and broad field offered by this progressive
and growing town.
There Is scarcely a place of the same
size in the south. where music is SO
much encouraged and sought as right
here in Birmingham. and only the best
Is good enough for the discriminating
public.
With the initiative Sunday musicales
which Mrs. Truman Aldrich instituted a
few seasons back. giving her talent and
time and money to the enterprise The
music festivals which have brought Mr..
Damrosch, Mr.. Oberdoffer, Mr.. Herbert
and other notable orchestral leaders here
to the various artists which the Music
Study club, as well as Mr.. Chalfoux. Mr..
William Ryan and other well known mn-
sical people here sponsored, Birmingham
has become educated up to decidedly
artistic musical taste, and 1t doesn't
take long for the musical world to "size
up, as 1t We're, an artist. and put their
approval or disapproval upon them
Into musical circles Miss Edgell Adams
made her debut "A couple of years ago,
and by her excellent fnusicianship, un-
usual talent and thorough capability. She
has established a reputation that is quits
enviable and her word means much in
commendation of a singer.
Through Miss Adams a very eharmIns
and attractive woman in the person OF
Mrs. Louise Cowan Bigelow has recently
come to Birmingham to establish classes
in voice training and for the present Will
occupy with Miss Adams. the handsome
new studio at Five Points, which the lat
ter has arranged for her classes this win
ter.
Mrs. Rigelow is an unusual type, possess
sing besides a magnificent colatura So
prano, a grace of manner and beauty of
face that are as necessary almost to the
successful singer nowadays as a good
voice.
Besides physical pulchritude, Mrs Big
Glow has a great deal of temperament
which Ia also a necessary attribute to the
singer, and her exquisite appreciation and
musical education have enabled her to
master her ar; and present her talent to
the public in the most finished manner.
There are few singers who have had the
excellent advantages that Mrs Bigelow
has had, and her experiences both at
home and abroad are most interesting.
"Of course every one asks If singer
has studied abroad" said Mrs Bigeow,
when we were chatting the other day
about musical people and events" In
fact, 1t is the first question that is asked
when as a matter of fact it shows ignor-
ance to large degree, for it is an estab-
lished fact now that as good instruction
may be obtained in this country as on the
other side
when / was studying in Paris" Mrs.
Bigelow continued II was repeatedly
asked by girls from the American club
recall particularly had started her les
sons with a great teacher there, and she
told me that within two lessons she had
given her With Verdure Clad'-one of the
most difficult of selections, and the poor
girl was perfectly at sea. She couldn' {
sing it: she couldn't grasp it either vo-
cally or mentally
''Where did you begin your studies?"
l asked
I'm New York-Im an English Cana
dian by birth,'' said Mrs. Bigelow, but
went to New York early and began
my studies with Madame Frida Ashforth
who is considered the Marchesi of Amer
lea. I studied with her for several years