The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-27
A Chat With MT. Erin Farley Birmingham Boy
 Who Has Made Good In the Musical World|
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE

MI paraphrased to Made in Bir- A mingham" when one is speak, ing of MT. Erin Farley's voice and his musical career. for this splendid young man, ambitious, intelligent, and talented, proudly boasts of the fact that he is a home made" product, and generously gives the credit of his success to his teachers here, who have aided him in his work and inspired him to reach the heights he has attained.
 MT. Farley is young. He is strong and courageous and the word fail is unknown to him; nice combination for boy who is starting out to make name and a reputation for hmself-Isn't it?
 More than this, MT. Farley Is conscien- tious in his work, and there is nothing of the pedant about him, his modesty be- ing one of his most attractive attributes Every boy and girl in Birmingham knows Erin Farley and likes him, for he has the rare genius of making friends and the still rarer genius of keeping them and everybody who knows him is proud of his success
 INIT. T drley Has at all times been most generous in contributing his beautiful baritone voice to all charitable enter prises and anything of importance that has meant the upbuilding of Birming- hams musical world, and he has given untold pleasure to hundreds who have heard him sing on different occasions.
 Besides teaching his large classes in voice, Mir. Farley is a member of tho Highlands Methodist Church choir. which is composed of Miss Bessie Cunningham, soprano; Miss Georgia Taul, contralto, and Mr. Baxter Eastburn, tenor, all of whom are numbered among Birming hams most cultured and eminent musi- clans.
 Years ago." MT. Farley said to me yes terday, when we were chatting about his ambitions and his work, q made up my mind that I would study music and per feet my voice, and some day become concert singer and teacher. I realized that it was a big ambition for a small boy, which I was then. but that did not deter me, for I believe anybody can win who sticks to their work and determines to become successful"
 T am glad to say that my voice and whatever success I have achieved is due solely to my teachers right, here in B1r- mingham. I do not believe that it is necessary for anybody to leave here to get good instruction in voice. In the first place, the teachers here are interested
 in you because they know you and want you to succeed and they take infinite pains to help you. Of course, l think after pupil has obtained good foundation, the voice placed properly and all that, it is quite fitting if he chooses to go to New York or Chicago or abroad as he pleases and continue his studies, for, as we all know, the singers work is never done; we never finish learning; there is always something that we can be taught"
 For two summers I went to New York and coached with Robert Hesia and with that exception I have had but two teach CTS since I began studying voice-Mr. Robert Powell whom Birmingham re- members for his splendid work at the Church of the Advent, and who also taught Miss Bessie Cunningham, MT. Reed Miller, the well-known tenor, and many others. After MT. Powell, had no other teacher until MT. Robert Lawrence came to the Southern School of Musical Art and I began my work with him. There is the greatest possible differ ence between a singer and teacher" |" MT. Farley said "as little as you may think Many people sing well who have no success as teachers. MT. Lawrence happily combines both he has the gift of knowing how to impart his knowledge to his pupils as well as to sing beautifully himself. He has been kind enough to say that I possess that gift to marked degree; also which pleases me very much