Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-30
BAYLOR PLANS
MUSlC HALL
Presser Fou d
Gives $4,000 To-
ward Building

FRR4MH - ~ AAWANNAN
BELTON, Sept. 29-With the aid
Of a grant from the Theodore Pres
ser Foundation, Philadelphia. Baylor
College will stand ready to serve
Texas and the South with one Of the
largest Fine Arts Conservatives in
the country. DR.. J. {. Hardy, presi-
dent Of the college, received notifica-
ton Saturday from the Presser Foun-
dalton that they would match a do
nation Of $50,000 to be given BY
friends OF the college. the $l00.O00
10 provide for the housing Of the
Conservatory Of Fine Arts. The build
ing Is 20 be furnished ~ the cost az
$4,000 and Is "a be called the Theo-
dore Presser Music Hall, In
Grafton Of the donor Of the fund.
Already a gift Of SIS 900 has teen
promised BY family, on condition
that the remainder Of the necessary
amount be raised promptly. The
aiumnae association Of the college
will take the responsibility Of equip
ping the hall. A campaign to raise
the remaining SIS. 900 is TO be launch
ed az an early date, with every pros
pect that the money will be on hand
BY Christmas, college officials said.
The contract for the erection Of the
building is be let not later than Feb.
I.
With this accomplishment Baylor
College will be ia position 20 meet
the demands Of the entire South Of
fering, with the opening Of the 1929
30 session, the best Of instruction in
the Fine Arts in one or the most
handsome and adequate buildings ir
this section
The fact that the Foundation made
application 20 Baylor College % as
sist in the opening Of an improved
conservatory in the south Is signifi-
cant. Three years ago John Il. Hay
ME, secretary Of the Foundation. and
chairman Of the building committee.
wrote to President Hardy Of the flat
tering reports Of the Baylor College
Conservatory and asked for assist
ance in establishing a conservatory
that would meet the needs of the stu
dents as we'll as the approval Of out
standing musicians.
In January OF this year came the
notification that they would be ready
70 consider BAYLOR College as a pos
sibiiity. along with forty or more col
leges making application 70 them. De-
tailed specifications of the work done
in the Conservatory were sent ~ the
organization. On Saturday. Sept. %.
the Presser Foundation wired that
Baylor had been selected a. location
for the erection Of the new music
hall. under. the conditions stated.
Although the Presser Foundation.
organized for the purpose 81 nrom0t-
ing music, has maintained scholar
ships in Southern colleges for a
number Of years. the building to be
erected az Baylor will be the first in
the South 10 he sponsored By this or
Ranization and is established on their
opinion that Baylor College is the
center Of musical life in this section.
One Of the features especially not
ed by the committee in their exami-
nation Of qualifications was the cx-
cellent type Of work done with prac-
tically no facilities. Although the
studios and student practice rooms
have been scattered about over the
entire campus the Conservatory has
maintained a highly standardized or
ganization. This department III the
College had n very small beginning
IN 1855, when il was set apart from
the regular college work. Today the
Conservatory offers work In six de-
parfments. piano. voice. violin. wind
instruments. expression and art.
Members Of the f~Hrulty Of each OF
these departments are artists as we'll
as teachers, and have meant much in
the upbuiiding Of the organization #.
Professor Walter Gilewicz. artist pi-
anist and teacher. is head OF tne Con-