The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-29
Mrs Houston Dd0iS President of the Executive Conn1ittee Talks About the Music Festival
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE

By DOLLY DALRYMPLE
 The month of May suggestive of all Things beautiful flowers. music and song, gain brings to Birmingham the delight Inl anticipation of a season of enjoyment
 the annual music festival which will Make place on next Thursday afternoon bnd evening.
 " From east to west and from north to south. the music festival idea has be- come permanent thing, musicians realizing that there is no better way of educating the music pupil, no more en- ioyable treat for the finished artist, than the opportunity to hear the fine orches- tras of the country.
 Far more beneficial than opera is the well poised. well rounded orchestra, from an educational standpoint.
 To be sure, the opera with it's gorgeous scenic effect, herading of stars and augmented by large choruses is more pleasing to the eye. but when it comes to genuine music-the finished ensemble, nothing so much as a good orchestra gives the same pleasure.
 It has been remarked and 1 have quoted it before, that Birmingham is 
 scriptions" when it comes to musical af- fairs" but I think the statement ought to be qualified for if Birmingham has not supported musical attractions as It should, I honestly believe it is because we have had such inadequate space in which to produce such things That de- feet, however, is well nigh eliminated now, for the much desired "audito- rum is no longer a dream or news paper story but it is fast assuming the shape and form of a reality and next year-well, who knows but what we may have grand opera as well as q season of orchestral work?
 The music festival this season will con- sist of only two performances, but such a wealth of beauty will be presented in the two programmes, that music lovers will be all the more appreciative since 1t is for so short a season.
 Connoise UT and critique pronounce MT. Zach and the St. Louis orchestra mag nifcent-rankng with the very best large orchestral bands of the country and with the addition of MT. Rienzi Thomas and his splendid chorus of 170 voices, pre- senting Paradise Lost, no finer pro- gramme of music could be desired
 
 I like the way Mrs. Houston Davis and her capable corps of associates have taken hold of the festival this year.
 Mrs Davis herself one of Birming- hams most finished and accomplished musicians popular socially and with great deal of charm and personality which counts for tremendous results when big things are at stake, is the Q. fight person in the right place.
 Mrs Davis is a genuine lover of mu- sic and besides she is really anxious to put Birmingham shoulder to shoulder with the big cities of the country when it comes to music
 Always loyal, always earnest, always ambitious, Mrs Davis has at all times given her best efforts and finest energy to local musical affairs, and she has .-done even more since assuming the posi- ton of president of the executive com mittee of the music festival for she mas personally conducted with the assistance of the charmen of the various commit tees a campaign to enlist everybody sympathy and interest in the movement, and that she has succeeded will be proven when MT. Zach raises his baton over his orchestra on the afternoon of the matt nee concert, when packed house Will greet him.
 Mrs Davis, in speaking to me about the prospect of the music festival was very enthusiastic and among other things, said:
 Not only have we endeavored to ln- tetrest everybody in Birmingham In the forthcoming festival, but everybody in the district Take the chorus, for ln- stance under the direction of MT. Thom- as, including as it does the Treble clet club the Arion chorus, the T. C. l. |, chorus and the Music study club chorus, l each of these separate organizations nav ing it's following, and these will be h. tad in ba has asked all the literary clubs, all the social clubs, as well as the musical clubs, to give their active cooperation to the festival spirit. The entire public school system has been asked to join us and they have heartily responded, as well as the private schools, including the Louie Compton seminary and the Mar garet Allen school and others. The music schools, including the Sherwood