Evening star., 1933-01-26
CONCERT MANAGER
DIES OF PNEUMONIA
Mrs. Katie Wi|son-Greene
Brought Many Musical
Stars to Capital.

Mrs. Katie Wilson Greene, who
brought to the Capital virtually every
famous. musical artist during the past
IS years, died today Of pneumonia at
the home Of her niece. Mrs. Dorothy
Hodgkin Dorsey, her associate in the
Wilson, Greene Concert Bureau, at 1929
Irving street.
Mrs. Wilson, Greene had been identi-
fled with Washington music for about
so years. She had been Ill for several
months and recently pneumonia set IN.
ending her life.
She was the widow Of Thomas Evans
Greene, well known operate and con-
cert tenor and member of prominent
Eastern Shore family, who died several
years ago. Christened Katie Wilson,
the concert manager changed her name
upon marrying to Wilson, Greene, hy-
phenating the name, and formed bus
iness partnership with her husband.
which resulted in the establishment Of
one OF the city's most successful con-
cert bureaus.
Directed Marine Band.
Mrs. Wilson Greene was probably the
only woman who ever conducted the
Marine Band through an entire opera.
Believing the regular leader not familiar
with opera, she took over leadership of
the service band. some 80 years ago,
during presentation at the Columbia
Theater OF the opera, Samson and
Delilah.'
During her long managerial career
she had the distinction of bringing to
Washington the Metropolitan and Chi
cago Civic Opera Co.'S, leading symphony
orchestras and the worlds most prom
inent concert and operate artists
Her first professional venture was
the presentation to Washington audi
ences Of Nordica, the famous singer
She launched her professional career
as a result Of her success in planning
and presenting amateur entertainments
throughout the city.
Grace Moore, famous Metropolitan
star. was one OF Mrs. Wilson Greene S
pupils at the time she and her husband
were conducting the Wilson, Greene
School Of Music at 26Ol Connecticut ave-
nue before the war. Miss Moore'S first
professional appearance occurred under
Mrs. Wilson, Greene's direction, when
the concert manager persuaded Clio
vanni Martinelli Of the Metropolitan to
allow her to appear in the same con-
cert with him.
Miss Moore made an instant hit with
the audience, going almost Immediately
on the stage, from which she graduated
to the Metropolitan:
Opera Project Failed.
One of Mrs Wilson -Greene's great
est dSappointments was the failure Of
Washington to support the six-year Sc
ries Of Metropolitan Opera productions,
which she introduced in 1925. After
the second year management Of the
series had to be taken over by a citi-
zens' committee, the affair having
proved a heavy loss to Mrs. Wilson,
Greene.
This year she had scheduled l6 pres
entations for Washington. two Of which
later were cancelled, and of which only
ton Symphony January 81: Paderewski
March %; the violin prodigy, Yehudi
Menuhin, March 20, and Lily Pons. at
a date to be set later, due to her pres
ent illness.
Mrs. Wilson, Greene was the daugh-
ter of Leander @. and amanda r
(Miles) Wilson and had lived in Wash
ington all her life. She first came into
musical prominence as singer, but
early in life displayed the managerial
ability which led to her later success
She was a sister Of Edwin L. Wilson
we'll known attorney, who died here
about ID months ago She is survived
by another brother, j. NJ Wilson of
Washington, and a number Of nieces, In
addition to Mrs. Dorsey. who plans to
continue the business pending settle
ment Of her aunt's estate.
No funeral arrangements have yet
been made. but burial Is tentatively
planned for Saturday.