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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 27, 1967)
Tuesday, June 27, 1957 Poge 2 Summer Nebraskan President Community Efforts to Organize Symphonies Prove Nebraska Is Not a Cultural Desert J f. r i By Diane Lindquist The following was written for a Univer sity of Nebraska School of Journalism depth reporting class. On a Sunday atternoon in the spring and in the late fall 45 musicians take their places, tune their instruments and fidget in their chairs as the audi ence gathers at the North Platte High School auditor ium to hear the Sandhills Symphony perform. These presentation! are made possible through do nations from local patrons, a grant from the Record ing Industries "Music Per formance" Trust Fund and a spreading demand for culture on the prairie. Can it be true that such concerts exist in a state lo cated in what has been called the "American cul tural desert"? The truth is that this is only one of six communities in Nebraska that have symphony orches tras. Omaha and Lincoln have had symphonies for more than 40 years. Be sides being the more es tablished symphonies in the state, they are the only professional symphonies in the sense that the members are paid. The Hastings Dime Sym phony was started during the depression. The name developed because the ad mission price was a dime, and it stuck, probably be cause the cost has re mained at a dime. The McCook, the Sand hills and the North Platte Valley symphonies have been created in the last 15 years, largely because the communities demanded cultural entertainment Dormat Source Nebraska author Mari Sandoz gave reason to be lieve that for years the cultural interest now being recognized was lying dor mant waiting for someone to untap the source and let the music swell forth. "Evidently something of the old interest in music has lasted," she wrote la a letter noting the creation of the Sandhill Symphony. "There was a season, right after settlement, when ev ery community with an E flat cornet man had a band. I recall, also, that in the 1920's there was at least one member of the Lincoln Symphony from out at North Platte, commuting. However, the real crystali zation now must be due to your special interest and peculiar talent with these people." The interest and talent to which Mari Sandoz was re fering was that of Dr. Lou is C. Trzcinski, professor of music at the University of Nebraska. He is the man who has urged Nebraska's businessmen, rsachen, ssd housewives to dig out their instrument!, dust them off and create the sounds they bad nearly forgotten. Trzcinski has found that Nebraska communities are Two University Faculty Take Part in Home Ec Two staff members at the University of Nebras ka School of Home Eco nomics have a part in the program at the American Home Economics Associa tion convention June 26-30. Dr. Shirley Kreutz, pro fessor of home economics education, will present some beliefs and definitions about the development of a structure for curriculum content during one cf the subject matter sec ties meetings. Dr. Hazel Anthony, chair man of the borne econom ics education department, will report on the activities of the Associated Organiza tions for Teacher Education at the 58th annual conven tion in Dallas. Nebraskans Attend About 60 Nebraska borne economists are attending the convention. Serving as Nebraska member del egates to the meeting are Dr. Dorothy Larsry, chair man of the NU Department of Family Economics and Management and chairman of delegates; Dr. Virginia Trotter, associate dean of NU College cf Agriculture and Home Economics; Hel en Gil, assistant director of ths Omaha and Council Bluffs Dairy council; Doro thea Holstein, associ thirsting for orchestras, which have been neglected for so long. All it takes is a little push and some local pride. Community Effort "It's amazing," he said. "I think people are more interested because it is in their own communities.". "Many people don't rea lize the potential here in the terms of talent. It's amazing how much poten tial there really is." As a consequence of the Univeriity of Nebras ka String Plan, Trzcinski helped train players in the McCook symphony. Several North Platte musicians were playing in that sym phony and they wondered why they couldn't have their own orchestra. In November of 1961 they asked Trzcinski to help or ganize the Sandhills Sym phony "There were ev en a few who thought this was a bunch of guitar players and fiddlers," said conductor Lawrence H. Ro meiser and on Sunday afternoon, April 30, they gave their first perform ance. This year Trzcinski help ed organize the North Plt t e Valley Symphony ia Scottsbluff. The idea is to help rath er than to govern," Trzcin ski said. "If they do It, then it's that much more impor tant to them. The symphon ies depend alot on the local leadership and on their re sourcefulness." No Boundaries Even though the symph onies depend largely upon the human and financial re sources of one particular community, membership is not restricted in terms of geography. The lonely, devoted commutor driving between North Platte and Lincoln may no longer have to travel across the state to perform with a symphony, but die distance some symphony members travel is still impressive. Every other Sunday when the Sandhills Symphony re hearses, first violinist V.R. Eychner drives 140 miles from Grand Island. He and his daughter, Mrs. Robert Deutschman, from North Platte, play side-by-side. A flute player and form er North Platte elementary teacher drives from Sterl ing, Colo, because ihe likes the group so much. There are also members from Cozad, Stapieton, Arnold and other surrounding com munities. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bud denberg, who farm south of Gothenburg, often bring their seven children with them to the rehearsals. He plays the trumpet, she plays the tympanl and now their oldest son has joined the symphony as a trum pet player. While the symphonies are devoted to the production of harmonious strains their situation may become strained at times in the areas of an adequate num ate State 4-H Gub leader and Margaret Killian, president of the Nebraska Home Economics Associa tion and presidential dele gate. Alternate delegates are Ardith Von Housen, home economics teacher ia the Holdrege public schools; Agnes Arthaud, assistant state director of the agri cultural extension service and Lorraine Brandt, pre fessor cf family economics and management at NU. Speakers at the conven tion project the theme "Focus on Interaction" through professional sec tions and subject matter groups. Interaction Viewed Dr. Elizabeth Crandall, AHEA vice president, will present an overview of in teraction, and Dr. Helen LeBaron, dean of the Col lege of Home Economics at Iowa State University, will tell delegates about profes sional interaction. Another featured speaker is Dr. Ber nlce Milburn Moore of the Hogg Foundation for Men tal Health at the Univer sity cf Texas who will give clues to interaction among fenerations a factor in uture family patterns. About 29 student heme economists from the Uni- ; ber of players, audience attraction and finances. Need Players "We need to be working to develop more active players," Trzcinski said. "Right now there just aren't enough around." Omaha and Lincoln, 75 member symphonies, have fewer problems attracting enough members. In ' fact, membership has to be re stricted and the musicians are chosen through audi tions. "Here many more people are applying," Trzcinski said. "Lincoln and Omaha are more prolific in terms of talent." Furthermore, the school systems have had orches tral training for years and both cities have youth symphonies. This year a second youth symphony, for elementary students, was started in Lincoln. "We feel the Lincoln Youth Symphony is more or lees a feeder," Gene Stoll, conductor of the Lin coln Youth Symphonies, said. "Most students play three to four years and have had quite a few years of experience if they become members of the L i n c o 1 n symphony." In the Lincoln symphony college students are offered an apprenticeship. If they are exceptional they are al lowed to play two years with the orchestra and then become regular mem bers and get paid. Students Help Students, both college and high school, have help ed solve the problem of ad equate membership in the out-state orchestras. An obo ist or a bassoonist is some times difficult to find in these communities so a high school or college student who fills the need or shows particular talent is used. The Nebraska String Plan, a program designed to upgrade the teaching of string musical instruments in many of the state high schools, has also increased the quantity and quality of student musicians in the out-state symphonies. The problem, then, of participation seems on the way to being resolved. Symphonies now can get enough players to come, but what of the audience? Are there enough people who are interested in t h 1 s type of music to make a community symphony worthwhile? Again, in Omaha and Lincoln, the problem Is less severe because of the larg er and more varied popu lations. In the other communities, where an admission price may discourage a mildly curious audience, the per formances are free. The support of the local patrons help generate enthusiasm, and, of course, there are some who have a strong, sincere interest in the sym phony, and encourage oth ers to develop a similar in terest Once the curious skeptic Members Convention verslty of Nebraska, Oma ha University, Peru State College, Wayne State Col lege and Kearney State Col lege are also attending the meeting. Students attend all t h e section and professional meetings as well as having a special professional meet ing for college chapters. There is also a special col lege mixer planned for them. The 25,000 member AHEA is a national professional organization of home econ omists. It includes college graduates trained in the areas of home and family life and working in re search, health, welfait, ex tension, business, institu tional management and education. Boat Rental at Holmes Lake Marina We rent Sailboats, Canoes, Waterbikes and Fishing Boats. Open 9 o.m.'ll p.rrf. daily 5tk t Normal Blvd. Phono 434-2791 or 488-9856 is lured to the auditorium to witness a performance, the symphony is determined not to lose him and sever al methods are used to hook him. "We try each time to bring in a guest artist or a group," Sandhills Sym phony conductor Romelser said. "We do choose a variety of music something that the larger symphonies would do to start off, and we end up with progressive ly lighter music." The Sandhills Symphony has steadily increased its audience since its beginn ing. Getting the people to come is not enough, Trzcin ski said. They must be able to understand in order to appreciate. "We need to fill our halls with an audience that un derstands and appreciates good music not just the folk songs, even though they are often good, too. But, yet, to hear something 1 n depth, this requires a better understanding of the tools involved in such a work." He suggests that informa tion programs would pro vide an opportunity to dis cuss the elements of a piece of music so the aver age listener would know what to listen for. People have been doing this, but not enough, he said. Yet, more and more peo ple are coming to the sym phony concerts so this prob lem, too, is partly resolved. The problem that remains and looms the largest, is money. Money Needed It is needed for the mu sic, the equipment, guest artists and the rental of places to hold practices and performances. Although Speaking In French Required M a i s o n Francaise, a French house, will be open for one month from July 5 to Aug. 5 for students who have completed three years of high school French or passed French 13 at the university, announced Miss Lenore Buford, French in structor. All participating students will be required to sign a pledge to speak only French during the month and may gain permission to speak English from the house di rector only in case of emer gency, Miss Buford said. The students may earn college credit by participat ing in two daily classes of two hours each. The morn ing class consists of gram mer review, phonetics and composition and the after noon class will cover civi lization and literature, in the main short stories re flecting the milieu of var ious periods. The social aspect of the month will include a series of French feature films every Friday night, song fests and informal discus sion groups, all with stress upon frequant conversation, Miss Buford said. "All students will matri culate as dormitory stu dents, living in the Nebras ka Center for Continuing Education. Residence is manditory and necessary if out objectives are to be achieved," she mentioned. In addition to three years of French, each student is required to have a passable accent and an adaptable personality. The department will ac cept applications until July 1, Miss Buford said. Others who are interested in see ing the films are welcome to attend providing they speak only French during their stay. "We eventually hope to have a house for each lan guage during the year. This is the first time it has been tried at the university," Miss Buford commented. they would perhaps like to, all the symphonies can not afford to pay the mem bers. Even in the Lincoln and Omaha symphonies, which charge admission prices, the wages are low. "It is more a contribution as far as time is con cerned," Trzcinski said. About 60 of the 75 musi cians are connected with some field ' of music and are members of the Musi cians Association. "They play for about half of what they normally get paid just to have a sym phony . . . ," Gene Stoll, president of the L i n c o 1 n Musicians Association, said. "We feel the mem bers of the symphony are donating their time. If they didn't do it, we wouldn't have it." The Musicians Associa tions give members, who are usually in a numerical minority, permission to per form in the out-state sym phonies without a wage. The North Platte local has granted the Sandhills Symphony a unique situa tion which, along with do nations by ten local busi nesses, covers its expenses. A trust fund has been formed at the national lev el of the association from a few cents paid on every re cord made by association members. Called the "Mu sic Performance" Trust Fund, it is alloted on the basis of previous use and given to every local to be used to promote live music. The money enables groups to get paid for performing at state hospitals, veterans hospitals, and Children's and nursing homes. Agreement Made The Sandhills Symphony Five Colombians Visit, Study Midwest Five Colombian agricul tural officials will visit the University of Nebraska and ; five other midwestern uni versities in June and July to study research, teaching and extension programs in agriculture. Those in the group are members of the National University of Colombia fac ulties at Bogota or Pal mira, according to Dr. A. C. Breckenridge, vice chancellor and director of international programs at the University. The tour is being conducted under au spices of the University and the Kellogg Foundation. Sheldon Sliow Nebraskans Art An art exhibition, ar ranged by the Nebraska Centennial Commission and the Nebraska Arts Council, is currently on display at Sheldon Art Gallery. "Nebraska Art Today A Centennial Exhibition" opened last week and will continue through July 30. It Is sponsored by the Lan caster County Centennial Arts and Cultural Commit tee. About 50 pieces of art are on display all by Nebras ka artists, either resident or non-resident. A variety of media, styles and sub jects have been used in the printings. . Many familiar names ap pear in the catalog, and Nebraskans as well as out-of-staters and all summer school students should find a visit an exciting experi ence. Sale! 20 Off Thousands ef Paperbacks HEROIC EOOXSTCRZ ztt N. it Romano's PIzxo and Sandwiches Free Delivery On campus Noon Delivery: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 226 No. 10th Phone 432-5961 made an agreement with the national and local or ganizations to use the trust fund allotment to pay the union and non-union mem bers, who, in turn, hand over a portion of the mon ey to the symphony. The trust fund allocation for the North Platte local is between $1100 and $1400 each year, according to Hadley Barrett, secretary, treasurer. Seventy-five per cent of the local's interests are in the symphony, he said. Five to six hundred dollars per year is the union portion which is divided be tween 14 and 18 members who play in the symphony. Couldn't other symphon ies make a similar arrange ment if this has taken away the worry of financing the Sandhills Symphony? It is highly probable that a similar situation could be arranged for the other non-professional symphonies in the state, was the an swer of the secretary-treasurers of the two other out state locals. They would have to ap ply to the national office for authorization, Harold G. Oldham, secretary-treasurer of the Grand Island local, said. This is true of any symphony desiring a portion of the trust fund allocation. Permission also has to be granted by the local organizations. "We're not even scratch ing the surface on that al lotment," secretary-treasurer of the Alliance local, Edwin V. Davis, said. "We'd be glad to use it for something. The more you use; the more you get al lowed for." The group includes Dr. Alejandio Sandino, vice rector of the National Uni versity; Dr. Santiago Fon seca, dean of tire College of Agronomy at Bogota. Dr. Alvaro Gutierrez, dean of the College of Vet erinary Medicine of Bogo ta; Dr. Rafael Bravo, dean of the National University at Palmira; and Dr. Rod rigo Duarte, director desig nate at Bogota. After spending several days at the University's College of Agriculture and iiome Economics the group will tour the Mead Agricul tural Field Laboratory and the Saunders County Exten sion Office at aWhoo, June 26. The group also will tour the Scotts Bluff Experiment Station at Mitchell. Other universities included in the tour are Iowa State, Univer sity of Wisconsin, Michigan State University, the Kel logg Foundation at Battle Creek, Mich.; University of Missouri, Colorado State University. They will return to Co lombia Aug. 1. The home of Big Red (eselixei Campus Service 17tb A Viae . : -i- x . at Cbreae "TRAILER T0WIN6 MIR RORS", Heed Mm at type, er off ia teceads. "DtnjCTA SHKLD" - Prefects bead aed wiadikleld frM bags gravel. Made far cb car. "IKSID! IUO SCRMNS" QC for mart cart "CLASS TIMr - beeos year car caalar aad easy aa $ 93 tba ayts "BATTWT CHARMR" far dry batteries, floehllaht ana radio. Cat $340 aa fraai $A9S 20c Battery Chrome elated "CLOTHES MAN ft. H BAr, dareble steel tabiitj, $169 telescope I aa. Ceorentted "SI ICE JOB", bead ed tb eel a ad la bar, all Ferdi Chevrolet! iaww Service terete I mi PARKINS at rear ef stare. DIAL 477-4491 216 So. 11th IrsnArtfir urt.t uaIah Snviipr. iiniversitv of Nebraska's asso- ciate dean of studeut affairs, has been elected na tional president of Mortar Boards, the women's honor society. The election took place at Lafayette, Ind., where Mortar Boards held their annual four day con vention at Purdue University. Miss Snyder, who was among the featured speakers at the convention, is the past first vice president of the group. Campus Safety Stressed According to J. V. Edsall, director of planning and construction at the Univer sity of Wisconsin, one way to end a minor safety haz ard is to make it a major one for a major hazard "will often be the scene of fewer accidents." Edsall spoke at the Mon day session of the three day National Conference on Campus Safety at the Nebraska Center. He noted the need for closer coopera tion and communication be tween the safety officers and the architects design ing new campus buildings. Many of the safety prob lems that occur after a building is constructed could be eliminated if safe ty officers participated more in the preblueprint stage by offering recom mendations on features to be Included or struck from a slated project, he said. Also speaking to the dele gates Monday was National Safety Council president Howard Pyle. He discussed safety as a science con cerned with the movement of people. Pyle said that the Safety Council was organized by Industry 54 years ago when about 80 per cent of all ac cidents were industrial: to day it is 14 per cent. From $150 V ft thb lovely gem fs an Interesting departure from the conventional. Of very f7n color, ft has afl the brilliance and fire cf a round diamond pius tr grace and glitter cf a irarqidse-cut JSaitntlM lUghtlf tnlvtti 1129 "0 eieieTiets twiLiea Strving Lincoln Sine 1905 .-! 111 tit " '" n - . . s -iW ? s . Vj A recent survey of 108 colleges and universities revealed that only 27 had safety directors and they did not offer safety courses, while 18 had safety courses but no safety director. Pyle said only one of the schools surveyed offered a degree in safety and it was in the area of fire preven tion. However, Pyle noted that there is a growing national awareness of the safety probleiu and said this awareness is being ex pressed. He specifically cited the automobile, noting that new requirements are being in stalled, such as the collap sible steering wheel. Pyle added that the total number of traffic fatalities in the nation dropped 2 pel cent for the first five months of 1967, compared with the same period cf 1966 and said the death rate per miles traveled has decreased by 6 per cent for the same period. Wanted: Girl to live in with young woman and daughter. Free room and board in exchange for some babysitting. Phone 466-6913. v STREET amcmcan eta eociiTt
