Omaha daily bee., 1921-10-23
Nj u S | c.
By HENRIETTA n. REEs

yIyHEN the weekly copy OF the
wv Musical Courier came recent
w ~. the front page greeted US
with the lace OF a well loved friend
and former Omshan. Mr.. Thomas
] Kelly Mr. Kelly left Omaha .
lew years ago after many years oi
residence in this city, aud what was
Omaha's loss was Cineinnati's gain,
Tor in that city Mr. and Mrs. Kelly
nave ben members OF the faculty oi
the large conservatory there.
During the years OF Mr.. Kelly's
life in Omaha he always took lead
ing part in musical affairs. AZ the
time OF the Transmissippi Exposition
Mr.. Kelly directed large chorus In
connection with the concerts by
the theodore Thomas orchestra.
He was later in charge OF all the
music at the Exposition.
For many years Mr.. Kelly played
organ and directed the choir in
prominent churches here. later giving
up the organ to devote himself more
thoroughly 20 vocal music. in
which he and Mrs. Kelly were es-
peeially interested. For many years
Mrs. Kelly held an enviable posi-
ton as soprano in this city, and
their frequent lecture recitals. and
folk song recitais, or other joint re.
citals were events full OF musical i'm
portancc. ...#.a
But perhaps the greatest of all
Mr.. kclly's achievements in Omaha
was the Mendelssohn choir. This
body OF singers Mr.. Kelly organized
and directed for several years, dur
ing which time annual spring con-
certs were given with the Chicago
Symphony orchestra, Frederick
Stock conductor. The Omaha Me-
delssohn choir was founded upon
similar lines to that of the Mendel.
ssohn choir Of Toronto under Di-
rector Vogt. Mr.. Kclly's ideals Of
choral music were high, and the
ideals Of his choir accordingly. For
the members it was a genuine course
in musical appreciation, and the im-
petus Of Mr.. Kelly's work and en-
thusiasm Is still felt in many OF tn.
musical activities Of Omaha of the
present day.
The Omaha Mcndelssohn choir
was spoken OF in glowing terms by
Mr.. Stock and his men, and its repu.
tation as a choral body spread far
beyond the limits Of our city. Ar
cher Gibson, the organist from New
York was present at one Of the con-
certs, and after it was over he
sought Mr.. Kelly and after con-
graduating him said. why do you
bother to have the words printed on
the programs when your choir sings
SO distinctly that one can under.
stand them?" ~.
The Omaha Mcndelssohn choir
had succession OF musical triumphs
to its credit during the course of its
career. When Mr.. Kelly left Omah1
for Chicago, the Mendelssohn choir
disbanded. But although the Omaha
Mendelssohn choir is no more, Mr.
Kelly has gone on to other successes
in the musical field. as the following
article from the Musical Courier will
testify.
Thomas James Kelly. whose por-
trait appears on the front cover Of
this weeks issue of the Musical
Courier. Is probably one Of the most
actively industrious men in the mu-
sical world Of today.
In his important position as ar
tist-teacher in the voice department
OF the Cincinnati Conservatory Of
Music he Is kept busy with as large
n clientele of students as it is pos
sible for him to teach. and even
with the cooperation Of Mrs. Kelly
in his teaching he is obliged this
season to have several assistants.
Mr.. Kelly Is so we'll known through
the country by means OF his numer-
GUS articles Of interest to the singer
as we'll as by his many pupils scat
tered everywhere. that mention of
his work as q voice teacher here is
unnecessary. He was one Of the
first men in the last score of years
to write and work for better
knowledge Of English diction, and in
this line alone he has made a ma
tional reputation. In addition to
hosts OF friends by their highly ar
tistic programs embracing the best
in song literature in English,
French, German and Italian. Their
programs have always been highly
spoken Of by press and public alike.
for their unusual and well-thought-
out constructions; many a rare old
song has been brought to light and
many new composer has been ex-
plotted on these choice specimens of
the Art OF Program making.
Recitals Of folk songs with run
ming "causerie" were introduced by
the Kellys in the days when singers
were just beginning to see the great
value of this form Of music litera-
ture and expression.
In addition to all this activity.
which would be enough to satisfy
the ordinary person in professional
life. Mr.. Kelly has found time to
produce what might be termed a
sensation by his appearances with
the Cincinnati Symphony orchasera
as interpreter for the Young Peo-
pies Concerts In the regular concert
season. The remarkably vital way
in which Mr.. Kelly can get hold of
large audience of children and
hold them interested, and even en-
tranced, in the music they are about
10 listen to IL little short of marvel
GUS. He has a characteristic way
Of getting the youngsters to sing a
few notes, and then by clever ma
nipulation develop 1t through them
until 1t becomes the principal
theme of a movement from. a Bee
thoven symphony, or he will sit
down at baby grand piano on the
stage and play a five-finger exercise
just as young beginners do. and then
gradually develop It into the Largo