ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY. ANNUAL MEETING.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 85, 11 April 1894, Page 4

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY. ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Orchestral Sooiety was hold in the Dresden Rooms lost '»ng, Mr. Wm. Gill in the chair. Tho Hdu. ~" 0 ' B report congratulated the Sooiety comiiVHfe.. -rked suoooss that had been upon ttiS hu. -> >c season. Three concerts uohie'Ted/ drfrrtfg v. '' 14 complete nrcheswere given, at wfetafe '1. including two tral works were perioflSKh- . ' ' No. Bin F, symphonies, viz. s-BeetfWWr* '" c - At and MeadelSßohn'H Scotch No. » >- was tho second concert the sympHo^y omitted, at tho roquoßt of several mo BOribera. The overtures comprised— Ift Spring" (Goldmark), played at two c6ncorts; "Semiramide" (Rossini), "igmont (Beethoven), and " Bohemian Girl" (Balfe). Tho othorpieaes consisted of " L'Arlesionne" (Bizet), " Kerramors" (Rubenatein), "Prayer from Der Froisohutz " (Carl), played at two concerts, " Torchlight Polonaise " (Manna), '• Lohengrin" fantasia (Wagner), and " Two Mexican Dances." Only two instrumental solos were given, viz., baasoon solo by Mr. W. J. Harland, and flute solo (with orchestral acoompaniment) by Mr. C. J. Hill. The thanks of the Committee were tendered to Madame Rosaly Morz, Misb Newton, and Mr. E. J. Hill, vocalists during the season, and also to Mr. M. J. Brookes, manager of the Dresden Piano Co., for the great assistance rendered to the Society. The Committee had to record with deep l-ojrrot the death of its late President, Mr. — W.-Hr- Jjtrrin— Mr. O. E. Toluurafc wan elootad to fill tho vaoanoy, and had carried out the duties attendant upon tho offico admirably. Tho Sooiety undertook (through Mr. L. J. Lohr) tho management of the Antoinette Sterling concorts, which resulted in a net fa* f.firn of -C2O 10s Bd, which amount assisted in reducing its liabilities of the previous season. The season commenced with 103 subsoribers, 12 retired from various causes, leaving 91 to start the next season with. More subscribers were wanted to carry on the society successfully. As in previous years, the oommittee regretted that subBoriboru did not forward their subscriptions oarlior. This neglect hampdred its oxeoutive officers. Of the total number of subscribers (103) only 9 paid before the first concert, eight more boforo the second, and 38 more before the third concert. Thus only half had paid their subscriptions when tho last concert of the season was given. Ihe orchestra had maintained its offioiency, and now numbered 40 performers. One was admitted find one retired during the season. Tho average attendance at rehearsals has been 24*5, whioh must be considered good, taking into account the numbor of professional ongagements several of tho members had. The committee desired to impress on performing members the necessity of more regular attendance. Xbe library iras atill in good order, and in the chargo of Mr. C. H. King 1 , who was elected during the season to fill the vacancy caused by tho retirement of Mr. G. O. Sohwartz. Tho balanoe-sheot showed receipts from lion, members subscriptions to bo j6114 3s, from playing members, £\ 7s ; cash takings at concorts, £13 13s ; and not proceeds of Sterling concerts, £20 10s Bd. Tho chief ii.ms of expenditure were — Ront of Opora House, .£SO 14s, and ront of practice-room, J845 16s, advertising, £8 2s (id ; and printing, £0 10s. A credit balance of £G 14s 7d was shown. The assets (including £31 4s of outstanding subscriptions), wero estimated at £91 4s -, liabilities, nil. The report and balanao-sheot woro adopted on tho motion of the Chairman, secondec by Mr. T. W. Piloher. On the motion of Mr. A. F. Hill, a hoarty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. T. Vf. Piloher for the manner in whioh he had eond'loted the affairs of the Sooiety as Secretary during the season. Mr. Hill spoke highly of Mr. PQohar's work. Tho following officers wero elected:— Patron, His Excellency Lord Glasgow ; Prosident, Mr. G. E. Tolhurat; Vice-Presi-donts, Messrs. R. C. Hamerton, C. Hill, and the Hon. E.Siohardson,C.M.G. ; Conductor, Mr. A. F. Hill ; Hon. Seorotary and Treasurer, Mr. T. W. Piloher j Librarian, Mr. C. H. King i Committee, Meßsrs. G. Kennedy, J. H. O. Sohwartz, A. Hotop, W. F. Parsons, L. Cohen, F. Grady, and W. Gill In proposing the re-eleotion of Mr. A. F. Hill as conductor, Mr. S. R. Kennedy said the work done by the Sooiety since Mr. Hill had taken it over was wonderful. Mr Hill had Bucoeeded in winning the appreciation of both the orchestra and tho public. The Chairman said they could not do better than re-olect Mr. Hill. A more admirable per- ' formance than that of the orohostra at the last concert ho had not heard in New Zealand. The eleotion was carried by aoolamation, and Mr. Piloher announced that Mr. Grady had offered to present tho Sooioty with a white baton, suitably mounted, for presentation to Mr. Hill, as some recognition of the good work ho had accomplished. Mr Hill acknowledged the compliment, and said that amateur Booietieß were very hard things to deal with, as members usually came or kept away as they pleased. This Socioty bad on the whole, however, done very well. The Sooioty now had a sufficient number of mombera for the orchestra and parts. Mombers should be careful not to nominate beginnors; but only good performers. It had been deoided to impose a tost in future nominations, and three would-be members who had been nominated recently failed to fulfil the roquirementa of this test, and so wore not admitted. Membora would also require to be regular in their attendance at praotioos, as where three consecutive praoticoa were missed the delinquent would be struok off the roll of the Sooiety. A vote of thanks to the oondnotor was passed on the motion of Mr. S. R. Kennedy, and oarried with acclamation, and a vote of thanks to tho chair terminated the mooting, after whioh the orchestra proceeded to practice tho " Festival Overtnre," composed by Mr. A. F. Hill, for the forthcoming Musical Festival.