Evening star., 1948-04-18
Music Contest
For Youth Has
Wider Interest
By Alice Eyersmon

0y MICE 6NStSmoH
The finals Of the National Capital
instrumental music contest. one or
the activities OF the Boys Club OF
Washington, took place last week.
Although go young musicians en-,
tered the contest, 1t Is doubtful II
many, aside from those directly tn~
terested, took much notice OF the
affair. Yet it Is the beginning OF
what promises to be one OF the
most important efforts made toward
fostering love for and pursuit ot
music in children and the formas
tibn of an instructed musical public
Of the future.
The main point is that 1t Is Q
childrens activity, although directed
by grownups. The age Of contests
ants ranges to 10 years. The spos1-
sors state that I'VE are trying TO
develop in these young people the
desire to participate in musical
program for. the love of 1t. The
contestants outlook should reflect
the spirit Of participation no matter
what the result, and under no cir
cumstances feel q sense OF defeatism.
The experience Is invaluable, as the
contestant not only has the oppor-
tunity of an expert opinion OF his
talent, win or lose. but such contests
ultimately add to his poise."
This is placing the fearsorne or
deal of q contest on the basis OF
good sportsmanship. 1t Is one age
group competing with those Of the
same status and receiving recogni-
ton Of some kind, If not the highest
prizes, for the effort involved. The
pleasant rivalry can act as spur
and make of the lowest of one years
contest the winner Of the next.
Constructively aimed at a childs
level, yet offering the incentive to
progress beyond it, these contests
begin at the important point Of q
child's musical interest and aid in
its development.
Club Develops Music.
The Boys Club Of Washington
has incorporated music in its pro.
gram for some time. 1t has q con-
cert band, organized in l941, which
numbers SIS members and which has
given lis concerts before approxi-
mately $4,000 people. 1t has also
Youth Orchestra composed OF both
boys and girls and these groups are
under the direction Of Andrew G.
Bodnar. The club has a staff OF
six music teachers of all instru-
ments and pupils are presented IN
recitals several times a year.
It is from this club activity that
the contests originated. It's direct
realization is due to August E. Mas
caro-, director Of clubs and classes
of the Eastern Branch Of the Boys
Club, who, with the approval OF
Charles Fyfe, executive director, was
able to overcome all problems and
objections. Richard Bales. conduc-
tor and director Of music at the
National Gallery of Art, became the
chairman of the committee, and
literature telling of the purpose Of
the contests was mailed to small
group of music teachers. The re-
sponse was not very large and the
real nucleus Of the contest was
formed by 80 students who received
their music instructions at the Boys
Club.
However, with the generous pub
licity given the venture by radio
stations and newspapers, 106 en-
trants were registered for the first
contest. Thirty-six passed to the
semifinals and Is to the finals. Top
winners were Mark Walker. hutist;
Joan Carson, pianist, and Richard
Myers. trumpet. The judges were
the conductors OF the service bands.
members OF the National Symphony
and some public school music
teachers.
220 Enter Contest.
This years contest. the second.
had 220 entries with q marked In
crease Of interest by parents, teach
ers and schools in all Of Washing
ton and nearby areas. Music teach
ers find the contest offers an in
centive to work and pupils who were
low on the list Of the first contest
entered again to win some place
ment. In the Junior grade first
ratings were given Richard Brewer,
IL, violinist; Michael Ponti, 10,
pianist; and Barbara Bent. II, pian-
ist. intermediate finalists were
Robert T. Hilker, IA, pianist. Danny
Steinberg, IA, violinist and Sandra
Campbell, IA, pianist. The senior
list included Peter Van Allen, 16.
horn; Patricia Griffin, 16, pianist,
and Joan E. Hartman, Is, pianist.
The senior prize was a radio-tele-
vision set donated by the Homer l..
Kilt Music Co.; for the intermediate,
prize, an eight weeks scholarship to
Deerwood- Adirondack Music Gen.
ter at Saranac, N. Y, and for the
| Juniors, recording machine do
mated by the Soroptomist Club and
small table model radio given by
the Campbell Music Co.
Now that these two contests have
enlisted the interest OF a wider
group and also shown the way to
betterment Of the entire plan, the
next year will see improvements in
both the carrying out Of the con-
tests and the musical requirements.
The compositions this year were
much more difficult and the scores
differed as little as four tenths Of
one point. But the satisfying thing
was the spirit Of keen competition
that prevailed.
Dated bv SvmDhOnv