Klarinet Archive - Posting 000652.txt from 1998/04

From: Mark Charette <charette@-----.com>
Subj: Re: budget cutbacks
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 05:07:17 -0400

We need a new proselytizer like Dr. Joe Maddy was. For those that
don't know the story - in the first few decades of this century band
and orchestra were extra-curricular activities only. Joe Maddy was one
of the major figures in the US involved in getting schools to give
credit for those classes, and move them within the curriculum in the
US. He was founder of the National High School Orchestra Camp at
Interlochen, now the Interlochen Center for the Arts. From what I've
read he was a pretty gruff 'ol buzzard when it came to fighting
school boards, wonderfully schmoozy when it came to raising money
(or delaying payment because he didn't have money), abrasive to
anyone who got in the way, and wonderful with the kids.

I fear that band and orchestra may go back to being extra-curricular
only, wiping out over 60 years of hard work.
--
Mark Charette | "This is a very democratic organization, so let's
charette@-----. All those who disagree with me, raise
MIKA Systems, Inc.| their hands." - Eugene Ormandy
Webmaster of http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet, The Clarinet Pages