Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
BIC CROWD HEARS
CHO|R'S FAREWELL
Westminster Singers of Day.
ton, Ohio, Give Performance
at White House.

The original Westminster Choir OF
director. made its farewell appearance
before a public audience In the National
Capital last night at the Washington
Auditorium. The mezzanine boxes were
occupied by distinguished folk, includ-
ing Mrs Edward E. Gam, official
hostess for the Vice President, and the
balcony was filled with representatives
of many local choirs and choruseS as
well as others. The audience down.
stairs we not SO large. but all seemed
quite enthusiastic. During the after
noon the choir had sung before Presi-
dent and Mrs. Hoover and their In
vited guests at the White House. From
Washington they go to New York and
viii sail from there this month for a
tour of Europe.
Upon the return of the choir from
abroad the 60 individuals who have
made up this first Westminster Choir
will scatter to fill vacancies long sched-
uled for them in churches throughout
the country, where. as Ministers of
Music" as they term themselves, they
will carry on the same type of directing
and teaching that was instituted by
Mr.. Williamson. The director himself
is to become the dean of music at
Cornell University, Ithaca. N. Y. where
he will direct the music and continue
his work in charge of the Westminster
Choir School, which had long since out
grown its original quarters in the West
minister Church of Dayton.
Second Group Formed.
The second Westminster Choir, or
Ganized year after the first choir
viii then become the touring organiza-
ton until it, in turn, Is replaced by a
third choir now in training. Mrs
H. E. Talbot, original patroness of the
choir in Dayton and still q guiding
spirit cooperating with Mr.. William
son In every way, stated yesterday that
already there Is a waiting list of 100
invitations for graduates from this
choir directors school beyond the so
vacancies which will be filed when this
first choir will be dissolved.
The Washington public by now knows
this Westminster Choir too well to need
comments on its singing The pro-
gram contained many old favorites of
local listeners, and two of the soloists
were singers who had long since won
definite admiration from music lovers
in the Capital They were Lorean
Hodapp, leading soprano and Eliza
beth Cecil, contralto new soloist to
Washington, but familiar as a member
OF the choir. was Luella Conn, whose
light soprano voice was featured in
The Three Kings" which was repeat
ed, and also in the final number, "The
Shepherds Story" written by the
American composer Clarence Dickinson.
and dedicated to Mr. Williamson and
the choir. Mrs. Hodapp was heard to
good effect both in Dvoraks Going
Home" as arranged by William Arms
Fisher, and the encore, steal Away
to Jesus" which was perhaps the most
effective of all the lovely numbers on
the program.
Dedicated to Director.
The song God Is a Spirit" which
was written by David Hugh Jones.
organist at the Westminster Church In
Dayton. and dedicated to Mr.. William
son and the choir. was very well re-
ceived and Kopolyoff's "Alleluia
Christ Is Risen!" was repeated in re-
sponse to the persistent applause.
This Westminster Choir Is indeed the
NEST unusual and outstandingly