Evening star., 1936-03-09
SYMPHONY TRAINS
CHILD MUSIC TASTE.
Student Concerts Might Be
Cut Off if Drive for
100000 Fails.

The National Symphony Orchestra,
through its students concerts, is at
tempting to cultivate in the youth OF
Washington an interest in symphonic
music.
It's progress has been amazing. The
children seem to like the concerts and
DR. Hans Kinder, the conductor. At
tendance has grown from an average
of 375 the first season until this year
more than 1000 were reached by the
concerts.
This week Washington must answer
the question: Shall this educational
work continue?" Although the orches-
tra's campaign for a 100000 sustain
Ing fund is progressing favorably, its
success is not assured.
Summer Concerts Menaced.
If the campaign goal is not reached,
WaShingtonians will have to get along
without the sunset symphony con-
certs" this Summer. If the drive is
even less successful. next to be cut off
would be the students concerts.
Loss of the concerts would be a
great disappointment to the children,
campaign leaders say. as we'll as to
DR.. Kinder, who feels the work is es-
sential to the cause of good music.
DR.. Kinder takes the Youngsters
into his confidence, using language all
can understand and explaining what
he is about to play. Sometimes he
analyzes the different instruments.
Another thing, he doesn't sermonize
in his talks He realizes his audience
is composed of children and selects
music their youthful minds can grasp
and enjoy.
Children Flock to Concerts.
The youngsters are focking to these
concerts in increasing numbers.
Not only have they bought concert
tickets-which they can get for less
than the price of a movie ticket-but
many have contributed nickels. dimes,
quarters and dollars to the sustaining
fund each year.
The response has resulted in forma-
tlon of one Of the largest divisions of
the Campaign Committee-the Edu-
cation Committee, headed by Dr.
Henry Grattan Doyle. George Wash
ington University, and Grace Dun
ham Guest. assistant curator of the
Freer Art Gallery.
There is special committee at
George Washington composed of mem
berS of the faculty and headed by Dean
Doyle and Miss Anna Pearl Cooper
Miss Cooper also is chairman of the
university subcommittee of the educa-
ton division Mrs. Joseph M NJ
Gray, wife of the chancellor of
American University, and Mrs. Bernice
Angelica of Wilson Teachers College
also serve on this group.
Mrs. Hilton Heads School Unit.
Mrs. Miriam Hilton is chairman of
the school division, which has more
than so volunteer workers. In this
organization the committees reaching
the elementary schools are headed by
the supervising principals of the vari-
our districts. Miss Mildred Dean, su-
pervisor of Latin, heads the junior
high school Unit and Miss Clara Bur-
roughS the senior high school unit
Other divisions Of the committee
and their chairmen are; Parent
teacher groups Mrs. Walter Fry; spe-
cial groups, Miss Elizabeth Dyer, and
private schools, Mrs Royal McKenna.
A volunteer group of students was
formed last season at Central High
School by Miss Betsy Winter, who has
been made head of a city-Wide organi-
zation which is being formed, without
solicitation, by students in other
schools
DR.. E. N. Barnes. director of music
In the District schools. always plays
an active part in the campaign each
year. He was instrumental IN ar
ranging the children's concerts.