Evening star., 1925-08-24
CITY HEADS STAND
SPONSOR FOR HUGE
MUSICAL FESTIVAL
Officially Proclaim Event De-
signed to Make Capital
u. S. Center of Music.
CITIZENS COMMITTEE
OF 200 TO BE SELECTED
Program for Elaborate Fete to Be
Prepared by Representa-
tive Groups.

A great musical festival in Wa<1r
lngton next May. more Ella aborate than
anything Of the kind ever attempted
in the past and designed TO make this
city the musical center of the United
States, was officially proposed today
by the Board of Commissioners in
an announcement by Cuno II. Ru-
dolph, president of the board.
Decision of the city heads to
sponsor such an event by taking the
necessary steps to get it under way
gives definite shape TO movement
which has been in the minds of civic
leaders and music lovers for long
time.
Commissioner Rudolph announced
that sometime next month he and his
colleagues on the board would ap-
point representative committee Of
-0O citizens to take up the active
WORK OF making the May musical fes-
tiVal reality.
1t was predicted today that the cuI-
mination of these plans not onlv would
give Washington a week of the most
varied and elaborate musical pro-
grams the city has ever enjoyed. but
that the staging OF an annual festival
or this kind may result in the estab-
llshment of a national conservatory
or music in the Nations Capital in the
not distant, future.
Rudolph Will Act.
Commissioner Rudolph said TODAY it
had come 10 his attention that groups
interested in the development of music
IN Washington have been giving much
thought recently to the possibility OF
making a big musical festival an
annual Spring event and that he
thought it proper that the Commits
sloners should endeavor to crystalline
this sentiment by appointing a COM
mlttee to start the movement.
The Commissioner pointed out that
the board took similar steps less than
a year ago to bring the patriotic So
cleues or the city together for the
Joint celebration OF such National holi.
days as Washington's birthday. The
present movement. he added affords
to the musical groups Of Washington
similar. If not greater. opportunity
to make their city musical center of
America. just as 1t is now looked upon
as n educational center
Mr.. Rudolph said the naming OF the
committee to make plans for the fes-
uval next May would not be under
taken until some time in September
or October, when the vacation period
will be over.
Rudolph Statement.
Commissioner Rudolphs statement.
in full, follows:
"A great May musical festival for
Washington has been proposed. one
riValing in Importance those held in
Old World musical centers, one that
should forever place Washington
upon the musical map of America.
Nothing could be better. With the
suggestion one may vision great
national conservatory of music in
the District eventually.
Much has been said of making
Washington the musical center OF
the Nation. Sporadic efforts To
achieve the goal should now become
concerted. Washington is the logical
city for the capital of music, just az
it Is the center of great governmental
enterprises. The city teens with ac-
complished musicians. 1t has won
derful singers, ii has musical organi-
zations of world reputation From
the ranks of its church choirs of all
denominations may be recruited
talent sufficient to guarantee choruses
OF hundreds of voices. Grand operas.
great oratorios and concerts, instru-
mental as well as vocal, are thor
oughly feasible. Importation of out.
side talent is but secondary con.
sideration. Only a genuine will 10
present a great musical festival
which should attract visitors from
all sections of the United States. is
manifest evidence that such a will
exists. manifold as must be the diff
culties in connection with the task.
So thoroughly do the members Of
the Board of Commissioners feel
the May musical festival is worthy
project in furthering the development
of Washington from a business as
well as an artistic standpoint that
they are ready to take the initiative
in promoting a festival association to
represent all branches of civic en-
deavor.
Committee to Be Chosen.
I'm order that preliminary organi-
zation may be effected, the Commits
siners have agreed to select a repre-
sentative committee of zoe citizens in
terested in the promotion and ex-
tension of civic life of the city, which
shall meet and effect temporary or
permanent organization in the near
future. so as to insure a festival for
May of next year.
Months of labor and effort will be
involved in handling the festival in
all its details. and il is important that
early steps be taken toward complete
and successful realization of the pro
posal, which is a fitting adjunct to the
better and greater Washington idea"
Possibly no fete in Washington has
offered promises OF such lasting bene-
fits to the Capital City as the proposed
music festival now promises It will
make the name Of Washington a vel
come addition to the select list of the
cultured centers Of the entire world II
the program is carried TO fruition on
the eXtravagant scale now conten-
plated by its sponsors-one in the
book of musical pre-erinence with
the Vienan of old. Berlin and Paris.
The suggestion that Washington may
take it's place as the musical center
OF America is being received every
where with enthusiastic applause.
Although the festival as now plan
ned would be an Washington
event, bringing together in a mighty
symphony all of the musical arts of
the National Capital-vocal. instru-
mental and operatic-it would also
be an all-America concert. Tenta-
tive plans contemplate giving the
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