ORCHESTRA FOR-CITY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29192, 30 April 1960, Page 15

ORCHESTRA FOR-CITY

Music Council Support

A proposal that an orchestra of professional standard be established in Christchurch was endorsed last evening by the Christchurch Civic Music Council. The resolution, passed to the full council by its finance committee, said; “The committee heartily commends the proposal to establish in Christchurch an orchestra of professional standard and recommends that the active co-operation of each of the choral societies of the city as well as of th . e . organisations affiliated to the Civic Music Council, be sought in the furtherance of this project; and further recommends that State assistance be requested.”

chairman of the council (Mr J. L. Hay) said that the disbanding of the 3YA Orchestra had been a devastating blow to the two major choral groups in Christchurch. “Fortunately, there has developed a small string group of outstanding quality under Mr John Ritchie. This has given us a clue,” he said. “It is not our function to establish and run an orchestra, but we can act as an intermediary in bringing an orchestra to fruition. .It looks as if there is a possibility of establishing a small orchestra of professional standard to stand on its own merit and which could be made available to choral groups.” Mr Hay said.

Contribution Of Funds Written into the constitution of the council was an obligation to see what could be done to establish an orchestra for Christchurch. “The executive of the council has resolved to contribute £350 a year for two years as a stimulus to other groups to lend support,” he said. The Christchurch Choral Society had guaranteed a certain sum and it was hoped to get Government support. Preliminary information given to him by Mr Ritchie had been placed before the City Council, Mr G. A. G. Connal said, and would be considered by the council’s finance committee. Many councillors had spoken favourably of the proposal. Smaller local bodies had been approached and would similarly put proposals before their estimates committee. The scheme was still in the embryo stage, Mr Connal said, “but it is up to all of us in the Civic Music Council to give it our enthusiastic support and bring the formation of an orchestra to fruition.”

Representatives of various musical societies commended the value of the John Ritchie orchestra. Mr A. W. Mann (Christchurch Choral Society) said the group had come as a boon to the society. Mr L. F. de Berry said that the Royal Christchurch Musical Society and the Harmonic Society were prepared to give sincere support. He had conferred with Mr Ritchie and the secretary of the Christchurch Musicians’ Union, and the Christchurch Civic Orchestra was likely to be the name of the orchestra, he said.

Mr Clifton Cook, representing the Union of Graduates in Music, said Mr Ritchie’s group was of tremendous value and impetus to school music.

Mr D. J. Hogan, representing the Christchurch Orchestral Society, commended the group and the signs of a resurgence of orchestral playing in the city.