Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-10-27
MUSIC TEACH RS
CLOSE CONVENTION;
FAUST SCORES Hi
LAST NIGHTS PROGRAM PROVES
a HUGE SUCCESS - SOLO AND
CHORUS NUMBERS GREATLY EN-.
JoYEo.

The Illinois Music Teachers CON
ventlon close last night after very
successful three days session. The
auditorium of the township high
school whore the closing session was
held, was crowded to It's utmost ca
pacity, only standing room being
available for late arrivals.
While the place of the 1928 con
veution has not been chosen, several
members of the association who are
serving as officers are said 10 favor
Chicago, as the next meeting place,
and 10 be advocating the changing of
the time ol the session from midfall
to the holiday season. They are hop
ing by choosing the holiday season
a. the time of their next meeting to
get much larger attendance of teach.
ers from the music colleges of the
state who were engaged In their
teaching duties and could not attend
this session.
Faust a Great Treat.
The closing feature of the C0nven.
ton. was the presentation of Guon.
cd opera. Faust" In concert form.
by chorus of 100 musicions of OF
tawa and Surcator, assisted by Syhil
Conner soprano, as "Margueritc;'
Mrs. Louise Harrison Slade, central.
to- as "Siebol," and Arthur Boardmau.
tenor, as Faust aud Gustaf Holm.
quist bass, as "Mcphistophelcs
The concert was one of the features
Of musical life in Ottawa. that will
long be remembered, and was
thoroughly and enthusiastically en-.
Ioycd by the large audience.
Three grand pianos were used in
playing the accompaniment. the tones
OF the three beautiful instruments
blending perfectly, and giving an un.
usually beautiful sound effect At
the center piano was Edgar Nelson,
the director, whose work was a mar.
Vel - pl who witnessed IT, Mr. Mel.
sons personality shOnc out through
the entire production. Musicians were
amazed, at the adaptability he dis.
played, as he calmly played the ac-
compartment with one hand. and di-
rected the large chorus of 100 singers
with the other. Cool, brisk and with
professional manner, Mr. Nelson
displayed an absolute absence of TEN.
permanent or apparent confusion that
some times Is unattractive in a direc-
tor. Perhaps even more than the mu
sicians, was Mr. Nelson compliment
ed for the success of the entertain
ment His work was unparalleled
by anything ever seen here before
At the other pianos were Stanley
Martin, musician of merit. and Rob
ert Macdonald, whose accompani
b. ments have proven so enjoyable thru
out the convention.
SoIoists Render Concert.
Preceding the presentation Of
'lFanst" the artists who took the sole
parts, each sang group of selec
tons These were all enthusiastical
~ received by the audience Each OF
the artists possessed voices of a su
periority. and both their solo mum
hers and their unison work was very
! beautiful. 1t is unusual when -four
musicians possessing such genuine
merit can be obtained for the same
program.
All four are well known in the Inusi
cal world, and have been the subject
Of much favorable comment, which
has been accorded them by art crit
les of the cities Their work last
night was up to all expectations, anf
was pleasant surprise to all who
heard them Each possessed tn,
Qualities of perfect training, unusua
ability, dominated by their own in
teresting and pleasing personality
One noticeable feature was the ease
with which each of the four sang.
Pianist Delights Audience.
During the program preceding thu
concert, Miss Edith L. Baker o
Streator. played concert arrange
ment of the Blue Danube waltz Miss
Baker displayed to the large number
Of her friends in the audience. tha
she had already arrived in the mu
steal world The music APPARENT,
ffoWed from her finger tips, as hel
4hands passed over the keys, witt
their fight yet sure and brilliant
touch. People who heard her play
for the first time and were not ac
quainted with her work, predicted {
golden future ahead of her Her in
tense feeling, personality and power
to radiate true music was displayed
in her Interpretation of the ar
rangement of the melody so famiia,
to practically every member Of hel
audience.
AS Miss Baker left the stage she
was presented a huge bouquet o
nompom chrysanthemums over the
footlights. The audience would mo-