Evening star., 1949-03-01
General Support for Orchestra

To the Editor of The Star:
If the National Symphony Orchestra'S
current sustaining fund campaign is fail
ure, it will be due to persons such as Civil
Servant who had letter in The Star on
February 81.
Apparently he is interested in music but
he also is more than little confused.
He wants to organize choral group COM
posed of Federal workers--a chorus fine
enough to sing with symphony. What's to
stop him? I think it's splendid idea. But
what makes him feel that such a group
would be barred from singing at the Water
Gate? If the group were good enough, every
one would enjoy hearing it.
Civil Servant states that there are 200,0 900
Federal employees in Washington. Doesn't
he realize that if only 900 of them gave
one dollar each, we could meet our goal?
Who is asking for a tremendous amount from
any one of them? 1t would be better to have
many small contributions than a few very
large ones, because this would show that
Washington as a whole was behind the
orchestra. This is what Is wanted and what
has been asked.
Finally, regarding the merger: It's not
only the symphony bigwigs." as Civil Ser
want calls them. who oppose the merger.
Many not so important persons do also. I,
for one. I believe in our orchestra. have
1dlLH III IL. 1 KNOW CIldt IL Is COIIlQOSeU VI
fine sensitive musicians. I believe in it's
new conductor, Howard Mitchell. I know
that he and his men can give us one of the
finest orcheStras in the Nation. an orchestra
worthy of the Nations Capital. Surely
Washington should have an orchestra that
is its very own. We can support it. Come
on, let's all do it, MRS. r. C. VALORE, Jr.
To the Editor OF The Star:
The current drive for the National SYM
phony is one in which we all should take
part.
The National Symphony is listed as one
of the 252 symphony orchestras in the
United States which are playing in the con-
cert halls of our Nation. These orcheStras
range from minor" ones of from 80 to 10
members to major ones of from TO to 100
members.
The purpose of the present campaign is
to make sure that the National Symphony
shall remain on that list Surely. if 48
States support 251 symphony orchestras. the
District of Columbia will give generously to
the only one representing the Capital of the
Nation. MRS. PEARL HAUER.
TO the Editor Of The Star:
I can't understand why when Washington
spends money the way it does. it is so deaf to
the plight of the National Symphony.
When the White House can be built new
for 81 100000 why spend $4,5000Q0? This
is so absurd, it's silly
Let Congress give the symphony a hail. so
the orchestra can have a nice home and be
able to rent it several times year. A nice
profit could be derived from it; besides such
a hall would be a credit to this gorgeous
city.
Because DR.. Hans Kinder tolerated this
awful begging for funds for Is years is no
sign that Howard Mitchell will To play so
many concerts and to practice so much is
about enough for any artist. without having
to worry about job that might terminate
at any time.
When Washington has a major orchestra
and a splendid successor to DR.. Kinder.
think it would be a tragedy for the orches-
ira to have to terminate its existence.
Smaller. cities support orchestras one way
or another. I think charity should begin
at home for change. Just don't send any
more billions abroad until we get the Ma
tional Symphony out of danger think
if the high and mighty who enjoy enter
tanning so lavishly would give a few BAN
quets for the orchestra it would be APP
preciated. A FRIEND.