The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-20

men who have looked well into the fu-
ture of such things and taken the step
to establish 1t as such.
New Orleans has its French opera;
Atlanta has it's season of grand opera
from the Metropolitan company; 9TH
er cities boast of large orchestras and
oratorio societies, but to Birmingham
the youngest and the most wide-awake
as well as the most centrally located
of them all, 1t has been left to corral
the name and attain the position of
being the real music centre, by the es-
Establishment of a great school of mu-
sfc--one that will be to the south what
the Cincinnati College of Music is to
that town. The New England Conser-
vatory of Music is to Boston, and the
Chicago School of Music is to that pro-
gressive city.
Growing day by day in Importance
commercially and socially, Birmingham
has also made rapid strides toward
culture and musical appreciation and
that the opportune time Is at hand for
the opening of a music school with the
best talent that can be secured and the
patronage of the most representative
people supported by men of wealth and
aesthetic taste, is undoubted.
This has been SO far merely a dream
IN the minds and hearts of those in
this community who have hoped that
such a condition would one day exist,
q but now WITH Ine opening OIL t0e cOutu-
ern School of Musical Art the dream
has resolved itself into reality--a per-
mament institution which will be a
credit and an honor to the entire south
as well as to Birmingham itself
AS president of the Southern School
of Musical Art, Mr.. Henry Key Mil
ner has shown his appreciation of the
beautiful and artistic side of things
bespeaking the big nature and the keen
insight of the man himself who, al
ready a potent factor in the CONNER
cia1 world of this city and leader
in its social life now means to further
the cultural side of the question by Civ
ing his time and his influence to the
work.
Mr. Miners wealth and his fine bus
mess qualifications make him an ideal
president of an institution which needs
just such support as he alone could
give. other men of similar position
have done this, Mr. Winthrop Ames,
for example, one of New York's lead
ing men and best known citizens, beirg
conspicuous. He has devoted the
past few years of his life, a large part
of his fortune and all of his time to
the establishment of 1.-THE Little Play
house"-and the production of the
highest type of dramatic art.
Birmingham feels a debt of gratitude
to Mr.. Miner, that he has made it
possible for the name of culture and
artistry as well as commercial ana
business acumen to be added to its list.
With Mr. Miner in his fine spirit of
promoting the artistic and musical side
of Birmingham busy life, is associ-
ated genius-a man of amazing clev
ser1ress and foresight in the person of
Mr. H. C. Maynard new conner to
Birmingham--of the fine type of the
westerner-with all the glow of en-
thusiasm and initiative which It takes
to "do things" as it were-and as vice
president and general manager of the
Southern School of Musical Art, by his
tireless energy and boundless belief
in Birmingham's future unsteady has
put this institution before the public
well equipped, with the best of talent
and the most attractive surroundings.
all of which are conducive to its sue
cess and it's popularity.
IA visit to the Southern School OF
Musical Art the past week at the beau
tiful and commodious quarters of this
institution at Five Points," shows it
to be one of the most attractive and
up-to-date places imaginable.
The entire building has been re-
modelled, changed and converted into
studios, offices. sheet music depart
ment and recital hall, each one artis-
tically decorated and elegantly fur
nished, handsome grand pianos being