Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-05
WEDNESDAY CLUB
| CALLS AUDITORIUM
DISGRACE TO CITY
Retiring President Corley
Denounces 1t as Reflec-
ton on Richmond.
GEORGE w. STEVENS HEADS
MUSICAL ORGANIZATION
Annual Report Recommends
Subsidizing Plan of FL
nancing Festivals.
MAY HAVE $4,000 ORGAN
Would Place Instrument in Pro-
posed Library building II Scat
ing Capacity Warrants II.
GEORGE w. STEVENS HEADS
MUSICAL ORGANIZATION
MAY HAVE $4,000 ORGAN
Would Place Instrument in Pro.
posed Library building II Scat
ing Capacity Warrants II.

Election OF George w. stevens as
president. TO succeed j. q. Corlcy;
/ condemnation Of the city Auditorium.
which was declared Il disgrace and
reflection on the people Of Rich
mond. as Il place To hold the annual
music festival, and recommendation
that the club guarantee the sub
scription OF $4,000 for installing an
organ In the Soldiers Memorial Lii
brary proposed for erection on the
ford lot. provided It has IA large seat
ing capacity In the auditorium. were
i the outstanding features last night
of the annual meeting OF the Wcdnes-
day Club.
In his severe criticism OF the City
Auditorium. J. q. Corlcy declared in
his report. as president. that. were
IL not for the strong sentiment that
the work of the club should be car
ricd on vigorously in the future. he
would certainly recommend that no
more festivals be given until a suit
able building was made available.
The report was adopted by Il unan-
imous vote.
Names Officers for Year.
Other officers elected for the en-
suing year arc: II. ". Baker, vice
president: NJ. T. Spiccr. secretary; q.
". Grecner. treasurer. and c. II.
Gordon. Norman Call. II. d. Bryant.
oliver J. Sands. Henry Schwarzschild.
Miss Helen Stevens and Miss Jean
Trigg. board OF governors.
Tho report Of retiring President
Coriey follows:
I'm presenting my annual report
az president of the club. l desire 10
express the deep regret of the board
in not presenting choral work at
the twenty seventh annual spring
festival. The board had planned, as
usual. TO givc a standard oratorio.
but owing to circumstances was un-
able 10 secure the serv!cos OF "a dl-
rector in time for the club TO do
justice 10 such work: and. as We
had previously engaged the orchcs-
ira, II was deemed best to give the
two artists concerts. which believe
were highly enjoyed by those who
were fortunate enough TO attend.
Il have devoted sixteen years to
the work OF the festival, and during
this long period. II has been a source
| of great pleasure to me to assist In
a work. which has meant so much TO
the cultural advancement OF the COM
munity. During these years the club
/ S'has rendered many OF the best ora
,torios and other choral works of the
highest standard. The choral mem
lbcrship during this period has va
'ried. and at times large chorus was
available and then again the mem
lbership has fallen OF. These con-
Editions have been met in various
ways by the board OF governors
with view of strengthening the
Organization in It's work.
Financing Is Zig Problem.
Financing the club has always
ibeen serious problem. A5out ten
years ago / worked out plan for
a greater festival and concluded the
only way 1t could be financed would
be by bringing to Richmond at each
i festival a number OF the best and
most renowned artists. In following
| [ithis plan. unfortunately. it has been
to considerable extent at the ex-
pense OF the choral work of tho
| 'of financing-either by this plan or
by substituting.
"Now, since the plan adopted ten
years ago apparently had Il tendency
to retard the development OF n great
choral society, 1 would recommend
the subsidizing plan, and suggest
'that tho club interest any twenty
men who will each either give or
,underwrite an amount equivalent to
$500 per annum for two years and
that this money be used in securing
the services of an able choral di-
Irector who will be willing to give
his entire time to tho work OF the
Iclub. This man should not only be
"a scholarly musician. but should
possess certain executive qualities
necessary to take over and operate
|tsuccessfully every feature of the
=, work He should start out with a
view OF securing and developing "A
chorus OF at least COO voices. and,
with tho proper rehearsal period.
these voices. many of which will be
amateurs. could easily be trained and
developed.
IF the newspapers and business
men of the. city will take n little
moro interest In this work, the club
awill be In position to bring n great
symphony orchestra OF not less than
ninety, men for each festival. Now.
with large chorus and great
tsymphony orchestra, Richmond will
tbe able to give festival that will
;compare fayorably with other cities.
Appeals to Busincss Mon.
'But the newspapers and business
linen must give their sympathy and
support to tho movement. Atlanta
,spends $125.ooo on music week, and,
Sin talking with musiness men of that
sty, they tell me that music week
Is regarded by tho business men as
lone OF the bost Investments the city
lean mako. And feel sure IL the