Evening star., 1939-12-18
Stokowski 10 Take
j. ). Orchestra 10
Latin America
To Get Young Musician
From Every Stote for
Tour Next Summer

Leopold Stokowski, famed orches-
American diplomats at the Pam
American Union today of his plan
to take to South America next sum-
mer an orchestra composed Of
youthful musicians from every State
in the Union.
The Ambassadors. Ministers and
Counselors of the embassies and
legations applauded the move and
pledged every cooperation.
This orchestra, the silveI-haired,
dynamic maestro explained, will be
different from any ever organized.
III will contain one. perhaps. ,tNo
young musicians from each State.
and they will be the most talented
discoverable.
For perhaps three months these
players will perform in the princi-
pal cities of the South American
countries.
I'VE would like to come to you"
said DR.. Stokowski. with the great
est music we know of. in the hope
that you later will send us the best
Of your music"
Visit Primarily Artistic.
The orchestra, he explained, will
play classical music and perhaps
also music more distinctively Amer
ican. He added:
I'VE have our jazz, which person.
ally I like very much, though per-
haps you don't. You have your dis
tinctive native music. I've heard a
good deal of it"
DR.. Stokowski described the pro-
jected musical visit as primarily
artistic, with no thought of financial
profits beyond making bare expenses,
which probably could not be done.
Now I feel" he said, "is a very
wonderful moment for our countries
IN the Americas to come together
on a cultural basis"
DR.. Stokowski said he had been
Impressed on recent tour of the
country with the number of young
musicians who were greatly talented
and yet lacked an opportunity. He
wanted to help these boys and girls,
he told the diplomatic conference,
and at the same time further artistic
and cultural relations among the
American republics.
Wants Big Audiences.
He desired, he said, to bring his
music to the largest audiences pos
sible, and he asked the representa-
tives of the Southern countries to
help him work out plans. He would
rather, he pointed out, play to
thousands for low price than to
hundreds restricted to those able to
afford high-priced seats.
During the tour DR.. Stokowski will
record typical South and Central
American music. He also will give
additions to promising musicians
encountered on the tour.
The tentative plans call for the
Stokowski orchestra to leave on a
chartered ship about May /, return
ing probably at the end of July.
The ensemble will number approx
imately 100.
Afterward the musician told news
papermen that he already had
started recruiting the orchestra
There will be a decided emphasis on
youth, he emphasized.
Best in Each State.
Il shall seek the best musician in
every State" he added. I'm some
instances there will be two or three
from one State, but they will be
scattered over the country, truly
representative Of the United States. -
In selecting the members of his
"all United States" orchestra, DR..
Stokowski explained, he will have no
prejudices as to sex or race.
women in an orchestra are as
fine as men," he said. There will
be no distinction"
His first task, he said, will be to
choose the woodwind instruments
and the horns.
Each player is a soloist," he
pointed out, each has a separate
part, while In the string section
sometimes is or 16 players will play
in unison"
DR.. Stokowski confided that he
hoped to get colored citizens for his
percussion instruments, believing
they excel in this department.
What an, orchestra we'll havel"
he exclaimed.