Evening star., 1948-11-30


night.
The resignation notice follows:
IT have been invited, on behalf
Of the Board of Directors, of the
National Symphony Orchestra Asso-
citation, to be the conductor Of the
National Symphony Orchestra for
the season 1949-1950.
II have declined with thanks, and
have sent my resignation to the
board, to take effect when I will
have fulfilled my obligation for this
current season. My resignation has
been accepted"
DR.. Kinder steered the growing
orchestra through the shoals of de-
preston, wartime losses in person.
mel, continuous financial difficulties
and occasional criticism.
He weathered each storm, how
ever. AS recently as last March, q
partial membership of the orches-
ira association recommended by a
3-to-1 vote that DR.. Kinder be re-
tanned as conductor of the orchestra
for the following season.
The vote of confidence came while
DR.. Kinder was on his way to Eu-
rope. In a telephone conversation
with The Star from the Queen
Elizabeth, DR.. Kinder declared:
while I am deeply and sim
cerely grateful to my Washington
public, I am not surprised, as I al
ways had complete confidence in
their judgment and faithfulness."
He recalled tllat Supreme Court
Justice Felix Frankfurter, a fire.
quent concert-goer, had told him a
few days ago:
"You can't be any gooc if you are
not attacked some time, and the
better you are, the worse the at
tack"
Health Has Been Poor.
In addition to his other battles
to keep the orchestra alive through
the financially slim years, DR..
Kinder last year had i'll health to
contend with.
In March, 1947, illness forced him
to forego conducting for the re-
mainder of the season. He had to
undergo an operation and for time
was on the critical list.
But he regained much Of his old
verve with recovery. He resumed
his heavy schedul of planning mu-
sical programs, travelling to Europe
and South America and conducting
the. orchestra here and on tour.
In May Of this year, the 55-year-
cid conductor married Mrs. Persis
Myers Hill, daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs.
George Hewitt Myers
DR.. Kinder, who had achieved
world reknown asa cellist, came to
Washington in 1880 to conduct pre-
tliminary concerts Of the newly
formed National Symphony Or
cheStra.
Three Attempts Failed.
At that time, three previous at
tempts to organize the orchestra
had failed.
After the preliminary concerts,
DR.. Kinder came back to make the
collection of musicians into a per-
manent organization. His work with
the orchestra was marked at a BAN
quet given in his honor in 1910 when
hundreds of prominent Washington
ians gathered to pay him tribute.
The occasion was marked by scores
of messages of congratulation from
musicians throughout the country.
Announcing acceptance Of DR..
Kindler's resignation, Edward r.
Finkenstaedt, symphony association
president, praised the veteran. con-
ductor and declared the Board of
Directors deeply regret his de-
parture."
1--WE feel, however, "Mr. Finken-
staedt added, that in Howard
Mitchell he will have a worthy sue
cessor. Mr.. Mitchell has been
widely acclaimed as a conductor.
and under his leadership we are
confident the orchestra will con-
tinue to grow and be a source Of
pride to the Nation"
Cites Mitchelrs Record.
Mr.. Finkenstaedt said the new
conductor plans to call on several