The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1916-05-06
.RESUMEOF ARTISTCOURSE
HOnOrs Head of the Conservatory of
Music -BrOOkhaVen Now an
Artist Center.

Miss Elizabeth MCVoy, who has
been at the head of Whitworth's
Conservatory of Music the past
twelve years and who instituted
the artist Course" that has so
distinguished the institution and
her administration, The Leader
feels deserves special mention
here.
1907 witnessed the advent of the
first artist in the movement for
higher culture inaugurated at
Whitworth; and Rudolph CAM, the
SWISS pianist appeared. Then, Will
liam Sherwood, who e sympathet.
ic Interpretation alone of Traumerei
at Heuck's Opera House was a
distinct call for all the artists
who have succeeded him-Brook-
haven came to realiZ more and
more there was more in music
than the noise!
But at this time there could only
be one artist each year and audi
ences gave meagre evidence of fl
financial cooperation or of the
requisite appreciation that always
precedes and determines outlay.
But, nothing daunted, Miss
McVoy, with tn e pioneer
spirit in field of endeavor, so
rich to her and so full of prophecy
for her pupils and her adopted
home, finally put on Virginia Lis
terman, soprano, who succeeded
in attracting immensely and later
introduced Cecil Tanning, whose
coming to Brookhaven decided ac-
tion in the desired movement for
the years that have come and gone
with their moments of life we
can never forget; which brighten
and brighten as time steals
away.
The demand growing through
the insistence upon Mr.. Fanning's
making return engagement and
also for other artists because of the
impression made by him and those
who had come before, at this
juncture DR.. Cooper, President of
Whitworth, appointed Mrs. Bessie
Watkins Lipscomb, Dean of the
College, a committee with Miss
McVoy to present the artist attrac-
tions.
Upon Mrs. Lipscomb's removal
on the demand of her church, to
Nashville, Miss Lois Cooper sue
ceeded her in the interest of the
Artist Course; and since that time
has been of valuable assistance in
the presentations made from the
platform.
Miss McVoy and Miss Cooper
now present three artists each sea-
son. Some who have brought the
inspiration of their genius and
have helped to stamp Whitworth's
Artist Course as one of the best,
not only in the South but any
where, are as follows Maud
Powell, David Bispham, Scharwen-
ka, Henry Holden Huss, Frances
Aida, Frank La Forge, Harold
Bauer, Gabrilowitsch, The Zoell-
ner Quartette, Silvio Scionti, Tillie
Koenen, Jenny Dufau and Theo-
Fdore Bohlman.
s. A number of these artists have
kindly listened to Brookhaven tai
ent among its club-women and
among Whitworth's students and
have lent inspiration and awakened
ambition and desire that has been
helpful.
Scionti, the last artist who ap-
peared in the Course the past sea-
son, is teacher in the American
Conservatory in Chicago. While
on his brief visit here he yet lis
tened to the playing of Mrs. All
leen Tedferd Dunning, of the Peri
patetie Club, and to Hazel Barge,
our ten-year old music prodigy.
1t will not be amiss here to state
that after hearing these students
of Miss McNoy, Scionti said they
had done wonderful work and
their efficiency was due to their
teacher. The four pupils sent
by Miss McVoy to the Crystal
Springs Chautauqua won the med
ais over other schools. Theodore
Bohlman, and Miss Baur who have
received Whitworth pupils at the
Cincinnati Conservatory find them
prepared in an absolutely perfect
manner, and it is, therefore, no
wonder that Miss McVoy and Miss
Cooper have not been satisfied
with the usual in College music
departments; but have pressed on
to accomplishment that has distin-
guished Whitworth and Brookha.
ven as an artist'center.