Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-30

The recent declaration by Gatti-
Casazza, director of the Metropolitan
Opera House, that American grand
opera singers of today have no peers
among the artists of Europe, holds
true throughout the many branches
of musical composition, interpreta-
ton and expression. And indeed the
sentiment conveyed in that state
ment by the great impressario has
it's local application-in Augusta the
Symphony Orchestra organization or
amateur and professional musicians
has striven, progressed and achieved
until at the opening of its sixth sue
cessive season, the Augusta SYM
phony has no real counterpart in
this state and few in cities of the
size and population of this city In
the country.
Thus has it been that not only was
the splendid vision of it's organizer
and director. Ernest r. Hill, realized
but also have the musically inclined
young people of the Capital City had
an opportunity to further their am
billions py their association with the
great symphonic group, and thou
sands of Augustus citizens have been
privileged to listen to perfect rendi-
tons of the master composers.
For five Years the Augusta SYM
phony Orchestra has functioned
through the unselfish devotion and
loyalty o. its director and personnel.
and the interest and cooperation 81
the appreciative public. Starting on
its sixth season it has become one
of the recognized institutions of the
kennebec valley. and there IS every
indication that this year will be one
of even more artistic accomplish
mcnt and service than ever before
in it's glorious history.
This wear for the first time the
orchestra will assay full symphony
compositions, and the group of mu-
sicians are now rehearsing Haydn's
Symphony in d Major. and this SYM
phony. commonly called the SUI
prise Symphony" will be the feature
OF the first public appearance at
City hall on a date to be announced
in the future. The first private re-
hearsal was held October IL and
Sunday afternoons have been decld-
cd upon for the rehearsal sessions.
There is potential enrolment for
the 1925-26 season of 30 musicians,
with several splendid additions of
new players strengthening several
departments of the organization. To
date the orchestra numbers 40 play
ers. with several new members in
prospect. At least four public re-
hearsals have been planned for the
winter season.
During the five years of the his
tory of the organization admission
has never been charged to the pub
lie program presentations. There
has been a public spirited and APP
preciative group of citizens who
have enrolled as associate members
of the Symphony Orchestra and who
have subscribed for it's incidental ex-
penses for the purchase of music
and instruments.
This year the officers and directors
have conceived a plan to permit
greater number of citizens to asso-
ciate themselves with the orchestra
in the capacity of sustaining mem
bers, AMI upwards of a thousand
letters will go into the mail today
carrying circular enclosures and SUBJ
scription blanks, the returns from
which will be entirely devoted to
promoting the growth and develop
ment of the orchestra for greater
service to the community.
A Community Effort
The Augusta Symphony orchestra
has become an established institu
ton, and is supplying a need in the
community that is duofold-first as
an agency through which young am
ateur musicians, who play some in
strument for the love of it to give
outlet to something in their souls
which only music can express. and
secondly as the means of bringing to
the vast majority of people, who are
not musically trained but who are
blessed with the appreciation, the
beautiful brain children and SYM
phonic visions of the worlds COM
posers.
Perhaps its extraordinary success
has come in a considerable measure
from the fact that it was a commun-
ity effort, shared in as much by it's
intended audience as by it's partici-
pat1ng personnel. No member of this
orchestra has received monetary re-
turn from his or her connection with
the organization, and no agency or
promoter has been permitted to capt.
talize on the organizations splendid
accomplishments. The men and wo-
men Of our city who have been listed
on its rolls during the FIVE years of
ats functioning, have associated
themselves solely for the advantage.
which being unit of this musical
whole could give them in the way of
satisfaction of accomplishment.
Indeed during the first three years
of3its career the members of the or
ganization contributed a small fee
for each rehearsal to finance the nee