Candidates rejected by orchestra board

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33649, 26 September 1974, Page 16

Candidates rejected by orchestra board

The Civic Orchestra board yesterday rejected both the men whom the director of the Queen Elizabeth Arts Council (Mr M. A. Rickard) had asked to become administrator of the orchestra until next March.

The two men, Mi Owen Jensen, a broadcaster and musical organiser, and Mr Wilfrid Simenauer, coprincipal cellist with the N.Z.B.C. Symphony Orchestra both of Wellington, were rejected at a special meeting of the board of which Mr Rickard was chairman. It was at an earlier meeting of which Mr Rickard was also chairman that the post of administrator was createc |to close the rift between members of the board which became public when the contract of the musical director,

Mr Vanco Cavdarski, was no renewed. “I have failed in my effort,’ said Mr Rickard after yester ‘day’s meeting. He had per isuaded Mr Jensen and Mi Simenauer to let him sugges 1 them for the post after twe 'others the board had wantec had turned it down. j “I had confidence in then I both, and they were botl happy and willing to under jtake the task. There did no lappear to be any reason fo: rejecting them,” said M: Rickard. He will report to the Art: ) Council today on the matter “I am sure they will shar< I my disappointment. They arc not impressed with some of the things that have been going on among certain secj tions of the public over the i issue.” I The board appears to have divided in the same way as it has in the past. One group, including the president (Mr N. G. Pickering) and council representatives, was for appointing the administrator at i once. The other group, led by Mr G. A. Hay, and including players’ representatives, was against. They divided eight to seven in a vote. Mr Pickering, who is president of the Civic Orchestra Foundation, refused to comment after the meeting. Mr G. A. Hay, who has been leading the other faction in the dispute, said, “The meeting was too limited in scope and time for any serious attempt to be made

. to resolve the many problems ) facing the board. 'I “In my personal opinion, ■ an administrator could be ■ appointed for the rest of the ■ financial year if the proposal : was put to a special general > meeting of subscribers. In I the present climate the board was not the proper place to i seek a solution.” 1 Asked if he thought that the orchestra could survive the uproar in its present “form. Mr Hay said, “Yes, I ‘ithink it can.”