ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 929, 30 January 1924, Page 2

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY.

ORGANISATION RE-ESTABLISHED. A meeting of members of, and those interested in the re-establishment of the Palmerston North Orchestral Society, which has been in recess for the past four or five years, was held last night, Mr A. Skerman presiding over an attendance of about 30. Recently a preliminary meeting was held, at which it had been decided that sufficient support was now forthcoming to again place the orchestra on a sound membership footing. Last night’s meeting was held with the object of electing officers and generally re-organ-ising the society. At the outset of the meeting, the chairman said that he was very pleased indeed to preside on this occasion, which marked something which had long been looked forward to—the resuseiation of the society, which had been an important body in the life of the town. It had, unlike some other bodies of a similar nature, preserved a continuity which he would be sorry to see broken. The society had had to go into recess, not because of lack of finance or public support, but on account of lack ofan adequate number of playing members. Now there was every indication that there would be forthcoming sufficient support to ensure the organisation going ahead again, and ho sincerely hoped that it would. They were much indebted to Mr A. J. Graham for keeping the society going as long as he had done. (Applause.) ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr A. J. Graham; vice-presidents. Messrs F. J. Nathan, A. Skerman, B. J. Jacobs, P, S. Larcoinb and J. Carter ; committee, Mrs J. Law, Dr. Peach and Messrs W. T. Penny, P. S. Lareomb and C. H. Greening; conductor, Mr M. Cohon; leader, Mr C. L. Mowlem; pianist, Miss E. Wilson ; deputy-pianists, Misses E. Woodfield and Carbines; librarian, Mr Johansen; lion, secretary and treasurer, Mr C. G. Swallow; lion, auditor, Mr G. ,W. Davies. GENERAL.

Mr Cohen then addressed, the meeting on the necessity for co-ordination, loyalty to the conductor, and punctuality at practices, emphasising these qualities as the essentials of success. The society was on a good footing, lie said, and could be expected to give of its best to the public, going as tar into the works of the great masters as the talent avuilablo warranted. The first concert could be held in about three months’ time, and the initial practice would take place on Monday next. Mr Koehlar suggested that a junior branch of the society should be formed under the baton of a deputv conductor. Members of the junior orchestra could then, where necessary, fill uny vacancies in the main body of instrumentalists.

Mr Lareomb opposed the suggestion as being inopportune, Mr Cohen concurring with this view, and no action was taken.

It was decided that the personnel of the trustees remain as formerly: Messrs Cohen, Graham and Swallow, and that they be legally empowered. Twenty-nine new members were elected.