ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY

Southland Times, Issue 18931, 3 May 1923, Page 7

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING ' The annual meeting of the Invercargill Orchestral Society was held on Monday evening, Mr A. H. Stock presiding over a good attendance. The annual report was as follows: The Society has had a very successful year; attendances at practices have been excellent and the work done has been much Appreciated by the public who have enthusiastically supported the Society during the past year. The bookings for three concerts held in the Grand Theatre have been a record which says a good deal for the progress made by the Society. The honorary membership of the Society is now 300 and is steadily increasing. The committee wish to offer congratulations to the playing members and to the conductor (Mr W. J. Ferguson). Without the enthusiasm and capability shown by the conductor the orchestra would soon fade away. The balance sheet shows a credit balance of £3O, which is very satisfactory considering the expenses incurred both general and in the purchase of new and the latest up-to-date compositions in orchestral work, sufficient for two or three years’ concerts, which have been procured by the conductor and which will undoubtedly make the programmes very interesting. A proposal was brought up by Mr Ferguson in committee that a second concert of each programme

be given for the benefit of advanced students in secondary and primary schools, the students to pay 6d for two tickets for each concert or to become a member of the Society by paying an annual subscribtion of 3s. This proposal will be such that it will help to create the interests. of the young people in good orchestral music, and advance generally musical education in the town. The proposal has been discussed with the various schoolmasters and promises to be a great success. Messrs R. M. Strang and A. H. Stock were elected life members.

The date of the concert was fixed for May .17. Elections of office-bearers resulted:President, Mr A. le H. Hoyles;, vice-presi-dents, Hon. A. F. Hawke, Messrs R. A. Anderson, J. T. Gilkison, A. H. Stock and Drs. Ritchie Crawford and R. H. Hogg, committee, Messrs H. Hay, S. Kelly, R. M. Strang, A. Adamson and A. E. Wish; secretary, Mr A. H. Ferguson; hon treasurer, Mr J. Cardno junr., librarians, Misses I. Potter and M. Anderson, hon. auditor, Mr Scandrett.