National High School Orchestra Research Articles

The National High School Orchestra 1926—1938

The purpose of this study was to document the history of the National High School Orchestra (NHSO), a select ensemble organized by Joseph E. Maddy under the auspices of the Music Supervisors' National Conference during the 1920s and 1930s. Research questions examined the orchestra's (1) origin, performances, and operation; (2) instrumentation and repertoire; (3) influence on music education; and (4) implications for modern practice. The first NHSO was assembled for the 1926 meeting of the Music Supervisors' National Conference in Detroit, Michigan. Initially led by Maddy, this ensemble was reorganized in 1927, 1928, 1930, 1932, and 1938. The NHSO helped promote instrumental music education through conference performances, radio broadcasts, and concerts presented throughout the country. This organization also demonstrated the potential of high school musicians and served as a basis for the NHSO Camp—the institution known today as the Interlochen Center for the Arts.

The Second National High School Orchestra

The Second National High School Orchestra

The First National High School Orchestra

The First National High School Orchestra

National High School Orchestra Reunion

National High School Orchestra Reunion

The National Music Camp

There are many music camps throughout the United States. This article by Norma Lee Browning, although National Music Camp and its founder, Joseph E. Maddy, honors the purpose and spirit of all such enterprises. The summer music camp movement has spread across the country. Music study, recreation and outdoor life afford an ideal combination, especially attractive to those who are serious about their music studies. It can almost be said that wherever vou live there is in the area a music camp or similar institution which offers opportunity to high school students for summer music study. Mr. Maddy does not claim to have originated the music camp idea. But he and his co-workers, T. P. Giddings, C. M. Tremaine, and others who contributed hard work or hard money or both, had the imagination and confidence to spell out the idea in action. However, Mr. Maddy likes to give credit for the actual birth of the National Music Camp to the members of the National High School Orchestra, which had its second appearance' early in 1927 at the Dallas convention of the Department of Superintendence of the National Education Association-now called the American Association of School Administrators. (The National High School Orchestra was first organized by Mr. Maddy for the biennial national convention of the MENC at Detroit in 1926.) The students had a wonderful experience at Dallas in five days jammed with rehearsing, section coaching, and practicing alone and in groups between times-ending with a performance for a great audience of administrators, than which there is none more appreciative or responsive. Caine the tim1efor packing up to go home. Of course, nobody wanted to go home. It was sort of sad. The end had come so soon! Mr. Maddy dispelled the nostalgic gloom when he asked the group if they would like to get together again at a summer camp to practice, study and rehearse for a week or several weeks instead of a few days. You know the answer. C.V.B.

National High School Band National Elementary School Orchestra National High School Orchestra

National High School Band National Elementary School Orchestra National High School Orchestra

Music in the Woods of Michigan and Maine: A Review of the National and Eastern Music Camps

the Dallas meeting of the Department of Superintendence, one of the important parts of the program was the appearance of the National High School Orchestra. Tentative plans were discussed for the formation of a summer music camp which would extend the activities so well begun in the National High School Orchestra. A tentative announcement was made that the camp would be located somewhere in Maine. The final selection, however, rested upon Interlochen, Michigan, and there the National High School Orchestra and Band Camp, now known as the National Music Camp, was opened in the summer of 1928. Plans were made by another group in the east for establishing a camp in Maine in 1930, but the actual opening did not take place until 1931. The National Camp has, therefore, had five seasons, and the Eastern, two seasons. There are marked differences in the ownership and management of the two camps, although in their educational policies both camps are controlled by men who are closely associated with the actual music in the schools. The National Camp management and ownership rests with the same type of people. The Eastern camp has been financed by a group of public spirited Maine business men. The Na-

Notes on the National Orchestra and Chorus Music

Informative Notes on the Music to be Performed by the 1932 National High School Orchestra and Chorus at the Cleveland Biennial Prepared for and Published by the Committee on Music Appreciation.

Concerts and Broadcasts of the National High School Orchestra

Concerts and Broadcasts of the National High School Orchestra

1930 National High School Orchestra

1930 National High School Orchestra

National High School Orchestra and Band Camp

National High School Orchestra and Band Camp

The Values and Danger of Class Piano Instruction

After the first week of the camp, concerts will be given every evening by various ensemble groups, soloists, faculty and visiting artists and contests among the players. Admission will be charged to the public and all proceeds applied towards reducing the cost of scholarships in future years. The National High School Orchestra Camp Association is a non-profit corporation with but one motive-to reward outstanding high school musicians and assist them in their efforts to make the most of their talents. A number of scholarships are already available for camp members who demonstrate unusual ability and the number of such scholarships will grow until election to the camp will mean election to a subsidized musical education.

The Chicago National High School Orchestra

The Chicago National High School Orchestra

Another National High School Orchestra

Another National High School Orchestra

National High School Orchestra

National High School Orchestra

National High School Orchestra

National High School Orchestra

The National High School Orchestra

The National High School Orchestra