Evening star., 1944-02-10
Symphony Campaign
OPENS With Advance
Gifts Of S32,189
Two Honors Conferred
On Conductor Kinder
At Concert Intermission

with So, ,l89 or 24.7 per cent OF the
total campaign goal, already OBJ
tained through advance contribu-
tions, the drive to raise $4,000 for
support of the National Symphony
Orchestra during the l944-45 concert
season was officially underway today.
Progress of the campaign will be
reported Monday and next Friday,
when leaders in the II fund-raising
committees hold luncheon meetings
in the United States Chamber of
Commerce Building.
Meanwhile, two honors were con-
ferred on Conductor Hans Kinder
and the National Symphony Or
cheStra during the intermiSsion of
last nights concert in Constitution
Hall. 1t was DR.. Kindler's 1,0O0th
performance as conductor.
DR. Alexander Loudon, the Neither
lands Ambassador, presented DR..
Kinder the officers degree of the
Order of Orange Nassau, the highest
order which Queen Wilhelmina' S
government can confer on foreigners
Though DR.. Kinder was born in
Holland, he has been an American
citizen since 1921.
Rruckner Society Award.
Supreme Court Justice Owen j.
Roberts, on behalf of the Bruckner
Society of America, awarded DR..
Kinder the society's medal of honor
IN recognition of his efforts to pro-
mote greater appreciation of Gustav
Mahler's music in the United States.
The National Symphony had just
closed the first half of the program
with the Mailer Fourth Symphony.
The launching of the drive. at a
luncheon meeting yesterday in the
Statler Hotel, was high lighted by
the announcement that 778 pre-
campaign pledges have started the
majority of the II committees on
their way toward their goals. The
advance gifts obtained by each COM
mittee and the percentage of each
committees quota were listed as
follows: Army Committee, 81 400
or 35 per cent of its quota: associa-
tions, s1,2ll, or l7.3 per cent; busi-
ness, S545, SO per cent; colleges ana
universities. $40, or 08 per cent;
Government, s866, "a per cent;
metropolitan, s22,512, 426 per cent;
Navy -Marine-Coast Guard, s1,402,
311 per cent; Orchestra Guild. So
1910, 283 per cent; public schools,
SAT. IA per cent; suburban, ST.
1925, 235 per cent. The commit
tees for private and parochial
schools did not report precampaign
solicitations.
DIR. Hubbard Speaks.
Principal speaker at the kickoff
luncheon was Dr. Henry F. Hubbard,
assistant to the chairman of the
Council of Personnel Administra-
ton. Telling the group that Gov
ernment workers have shown great
enthusiasm over the campaign, DR..
Hubbard predicted their contribu-
tions to the National Symphony's
sustaining fund will exceed the
$25 900 goal
He praised the recently-an-
nounced plan under which the Or
chestra next season. will give series
of three or more concerts exclusively
for Federal employees, hold free
advanced music appreciation course
lin large auditoriums, and give
special assistance to the numerous
amateur musical organizations in
Government departments.
1t. g.. g. j. P. Hayes, former man
ager of the orchestra, now on duty
with the Navy, also spoke at the
luncheon, expressing hope that
when peace comes Washington can
be made the capital of the living
arts In the meantime, 1t. Hayes
said: Eve must hold our beach,
head" by giving full support to the
National Symphony and doing every
thing possible to expand its activi-
ties.
Cites Growth of Orchestra.
E. R. Finkenstaedt, chairman of
the Embarrassing campaign, pointed
to the growth of the National SYM
phony since it was organized here
in 1881.
The symphony originally included
only 70 pieces. 1t now numbers 80
pieces, and despite the loss of 40
musicians to the armed services
during the past year. will continue
at its present strength if the $780,
900 in funds necessary for its sup
port can be raised, Mr.. Finkenstaedt