The Omaha guide., 1935-09-14
Musicians New York
Convention A
Huge Success
Well Attended Symphony Con-
cert Closes Event
BY Carl Diton
(FOP ANP)

1lohai association OF Negro Musi-
clans closed its 10Th Annual Confer
ence with a syphonic Program Of
credable dimensions, leaving no
doubt in the minds of the delegates
Of the weeks huge success.
Large crowds patronized the
events ranging from one to two
thousand.
The opening Sunday mass meeting
consisted Of the usual expressions of
welcome by prominent local repre-
~sentatives greatly supported by a
spirited address from William
Pickens, Field Secretary Of the Ma
tonal Association For The Advance
ment of Colored People and a chorus
OF 100 voices or more conducted by
Hall Johnson Of the Hall johnson
choir fame.
On Monday morning the v
ton formally opened after which a
splendidly organized luncheon was
served.
In the evening the New York City
Federation Of the National body, Eff
fie Diton, Federation President,
gave a brilliant concert in the st.
Marks M. E. church, consisting Of
three choral groups, vocal arias and
piano and violin concerto movements
The important educational features
were the organ of st. Marks, con-
sidered by many organists the finest
among Negro churches, the introduc-
ton Of an instrument, new to
musical convention programs, the
Viola, Negro spirtuals sung in
native African and an operate
scene from "Cavalleria R~usticana."
The professional conferences were
opened on Tuesday morning at
which Elizabeth Harris, member of
tho faculty Of the Institute Of
Musical Art Of the Juilliard School
OF Music, and Raymond Burrows,
head of the Piano Department in
Teachers college, Columbia uni
versity spoke,-the subject of the
latter being "The Importance of
Academic Back Ground in Music
In the afternoon the young people
from all ove the country astonish-
ed the cadence with their lavish
musical gifts, particularly Thelma
Ingram Of Brooklyn and Calvin Jack
SON Of Philadelphia, at one time re-
cipient of a scholarship from the Ma
tional body-both pianists.
In the evening, representatives
of the Branch Associations Of tho
fist onal organization gave a fine
III ''ert at which chamber music was
introduced O. the first time at the
conventions. movement from Dvor-
axis String Quartet, Op. 90, played
by the New York String Quar+e-.
he concert displayed in strong be-
lief the progress Negro musicians
II o1ghcut the country are making,
Wednesday morning provided addi-
tional conferences in choral organiza-
was 2 concert similar to the previous
n~"fe1noon in which compositions by
Gilbert Allen, Percival Parham. HI
go Bornr and Florence Price were
performed and an endless array of
talent appeared, most prominent Of
which we're the Lenox String Trio in
g. movement of Cades' F Major Trio;
Lo Bada Easter, st. Louis, Mo-, pia-
MIST and John Robyns, Waco Texas,
pianist, pupil, of Helen Hagen.
In the evening the Mary Dawson
choir Of Pittsburgh, Laura Bowman
Actress, a II year-old piano prodigy
OF Brooklyn, N. Y, and Shirley Ora
ham, composer of "Tom-Tom" per-
formed.
Thursday was devoted to business
and National Election and the largest
convention thus far launched came to
e magnificent climax in the staging
OF the Associations first symphony
concert. Florence Price, Chicago, Ill,
cmposer-pianist, played her concerto
IN D Minor; Edward Matthews, bari
tone of the -Four Saints" opera and
soon to be featured in George Gersh-
wins "Porgy" sang. Bernard Mason,
Des Moines, Ia, violinist, performed
the first movement Of the Tchaikov-
sky D, Major Concerto!
All of the soloists were accompani-
ed by the Bronx Symphony Orches-
ira, Harry w. Meyer, conductor,
which gave splendid interpretations
OF Dvoraks' Symphony from the
New World" and Colridge-Taylor's
"Bamboula." The concert was held
in the Julliard Concert Hall.
The new officers are Camille Nick
erson, Howard University, Washing
ton, d. C., president; Kemper Har-
held, Atlanta Georgia, vice-president;
]. Wesley Jones, Chicago, Illinois, ex-
ecutive secretary; Clara K. Hill, IN
d~ianapolis, Indiana, recording secre-
tary; George Hutchinson, Chicago, Ill,
treasurer. Effie Diton, New York
City; Lillian Jones Brown, Indiana
n0lIC InAInros Eus--I-xI N-1---~