Evening star., 1953-05-20
National Symphony
Association Elects
DuffieId President

cutlve and civic leader, yesterday
was elected president of the Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra AS
sociation.
Mr.. Duffield, general manager
OF Sears. Roebuck and Co. in the
Washington area, succeeds Cor
don S. Reid.
A report to the annual meet
Ing in the Potomac Electric
Power Co. auditorium by Gerson
Nordlinger, jr.. reelected treas
urer. showed tentative operat-
ing deficit of 1924 100 in the sea-
son ended last Thursday.
Contributions to the 1923
sustaining fund reduced this to
net deficit of $45, ,474, the largest
single season deficit in the as
sociation's recent history, he
said.
Mr.. Nordiinger reported that
income was So per cent less and
costs 81 per cent more than in
the 1872 season. But he said
apparently good many of the
Nations major symphony or
chestras followed such a finan-
cial pattern.
Goal Increased.
Planning through which it is
hoped to prevent another deficit
includes an increase in the or
chestra'S sustaining fund goal
from 100000 to $4,000. If
that goal is attained, the orches-
ira should break even next
season. he indicated.
In his report, Mr.. Reid de-
Ecribed a loss of season Subscrib-
ers and lower attendance at the
Wednesday concerts.
There were 1888 season sub
scribers in 1851, 4,O44 in 1852,
and 1906 in 1858. he reported.
AS compared with the 51,264
total attendance at the Wash
ington concerts in 1852 for a
II per cent capacity of the hall,
he added, the 1853 attendance
was 47.o88. for IS per cent of
the hall.
Unless ticket sales increase
substantially in the next year,
the orchestra will be receiving
almost half its revenue from
gifts rather than from actual
performances, he told the meet
ing.
Successes Recorded.
But he said the association
also had its successes. including
the last concert of the season
''in which the orchestra seemed
to reach new artistic heights"
and in the children's concerts.
The retiring president paid
tribute to Carson Frailey and
Mrs. Robert Sher, chairman and
vice chairman of the sustaining
fund campaign. who have raised
100000 so far of the $4,000
goal.
Howard Mitchell, conductor of
the orchestra, was commended
as having gone through an en-
tire season for the second sue
ceSSive year without missing any
performance. This year he con-
Quoted SO of the orchestra's 106
performances. Mr.. Reid said.
He announced that a record
ing contract has been signed
with Westminster Records Corp,
the first records to be made in
the late fall.
The meeting expressed appre-
citation to Mr.. Reid and Mr..
Nordlinger for their service in
the association.
Other officers elected yester-
day included Mr.. Frailey, first
vice president. and Mrs. Jouett
Shouse. third vice president.
Mrs. Hans A. Klagsbrunn was re-
elected second vice president.
Board Members Named.
A. Lloyd Symington was named
secretary. and Milton w. King
will continue as counsel for the
organization. Frank r. Jelleff
was elected an honorary vice
president, post also held by
Ms. Robert Woods Bliss.
Named board members for
varying terms were Floyd Akers,
Edward Burling. jr.; John C.
Dreier. Mrs. George Anthony
Horkan, Jefferson Patterson and
Mrs. H. Chapman Rose.
The new board of the associa-
zion selected the Administration
Committee including, besides the
officers. Lee D. Butler, E. r.
FinkenStaedt, DR.. Maurice Fried
man. Mr.. Jelleff and Mr.. Reid.
Reelected on expiration of
their terms as directors were
Nj. Duffield, Charles B. Dulcan,
81: Mr.. Finkenstaedt, Mr.. King,