New Britain herald., 1926-01-16
THIRTY YEARS IN
 SERVICE OF PUBLIC
t. B. Matthews Organized First
 H. S..OrchStra in State

Ieorge brlnton Matthews, organ izer Of the first senior high school orchestra in the state, rounds out 30 years Of continuous service with the school department at the end Of the present school term.
 Mir. Matthews, who is also the oldest male teacher in the schools service, came 10 this city from his home in Thomaston, Maine. in 1896. Two years later he organized the first high school orchestra in the state, the next being that of the Hartford Public high school, which was organized in 1899 The musical talent in the school prompted him to form this musical organization. Two former members who are prom inent in the musical world at the present time were the nucleus of his first orchesera- They were Her man Zahnleiter. who is now a teach CT of the violin, and William Fletcher, cornet player in the Phil harmonic band.
 When he came to this city, Mir. Matthews said there were only about 75 teachers in the service Of the school. Now there are about 40. He thinks that only about three Of that original 75 are still with the school department.
 His first position was that Of both supervisor and teacher of music in all the New Britain schools. He used to make the rounds of every grade in school in the city once a week The schools have grown so large that he does not think he could cover this ground in eight weeks at the present time.
 Among those who are now nak- ing music their profession who were at one time members of Mir. Mat thews' orchestra or chorus, is Phil | Ohman, world famous pianist who has been a member of Paul White mans orchestra for many years. | Ohman played in MT. Matthew s chorus for one year. John Egan, in- ternationally known cornetist, played with the junior high school orches- tra and with the senior high school orchestra, the former for two year; and the latter for one year, Herbert Anderson and James D. Donohue got their start at high school.
 Ethel Prior of Plainville was plan ist in the school orchestra befor' she went to higher schools of mu- sical training. She is now super visor of music at the State Normal school In New Britain. Doris Brad ley. teacher of music at Central Junior high school, and Mabel Swar- sky, teacher of music in the Smalley school, were also former members of his musical organizations.
 Theron W. Hart, president of the New Britain Musical club. was a member of the orchestra, and Ruth c. Horton was first soprano in a quartet of young women at the school. Nun2io Agnello. q member of last years orchestra. Is now well established as teacher of the violin,
 MT. Matthews was born in Thom- aston. Maine, and attended the pub lic schools there. His early plans were for a commercial career. and he entered Rockland Commercial college in Rockland. Maine, from which he graduated In 1886. H. then worked as q bookkeeper in 6 market in his homo town but studied music in his extra time. He took a position as musical supervisor ir his home town schools, establishing a system of music in the schools fol the first time. Later he took a spe. cial musical course in the II. E. Hol' Normal school, an institution of vo. cal harmony, nt Lexington, Mass, where he graduated In 1894. Thi; school has since been renamed tho American Institute of Normal Meth. ods, He also studied privately ir Music Hall. Seton, for two years.
 He has served under five rrinci pals at the Senior High school Enoch (. Adams, Charles r. Harp. er Martin G. cncdict. Winifrcd c Akers. and Louis ?. Slade.