New Orchestra for 1YA

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 20, 28 November 1930, Page 5

New Orchestra for 1YA

Will Make First Appearance Next Week NEW orchestral combination formed by Mr. Harold Baxter will make its appearance at 1YA next week. Mr. Harold Baxter, the conductor, received his early training under Mr. Colin Muston. At the outbreak of the war he left with the Main Body, and was often heard as violin soloist at concerts given by the New Zealand Division in Egypt. He was wounded at Gallipoli, invalided back to New Zealand and spent a year in hospital, after which he was discharged from the army. He reenlisted and rejoined his company in France. In the latter stages of the war for a brief period (after the death of Mr. David Kenny, of Wellington) he was conductor of the New Zealand Divisional. Orchestra-"The Kiwis." On demobilisation he returned to Auckland and was appointed leader of the Bohemian Orchestra, the Savage Club Orchestra and the Orphans’ Club Orchestra. Two years later he proceeded to England and studied under Albert Sammons, England’s leading violinist. On returning to Auckland Mr. Baxter was appointed conductor of the Savage Club Orchestra, later resigning and being appointed conductor of the Orphans’ Club Orchestra. He is also conductor of the Leys Institute Orchestra. Mr. Baxter is also well known as a viola player and is actively associated with the Auckland Chamber Musical Society. Mr. Carl Whitmore (violinist) received his training under Miss Edith Whitelaw, leader of the Bohemian Orchestra, and has had a very successful career as a theatre and concert violinist. He is recognised ds one of Auckland’s leading teachers of this instrument. Miss Lalla Hemus (’cellist) is already well known to listeners, having been associated with 1YA for some time past as a soloist and in the orchestral and trio combinations at the station. Mr. Jack Zimmer (double bass) is the leading double bass player of Auckland. He has had many years’ experience in theatrical and large orchestral work, and is a member of the present orchestral combination at the studio. Mr. Julian Dunn (oboe, flute and piccolo) is one of the most versatile woodwind players in Auckland. The first-named is the king of, all woodwind instruments. _ Miss Dorothea Ryan (pianist). This talented young lady is the composer of very well-known ballads, one of her compositions being the popular "Sleepy Maori Moon." She was for some years conductor of the Theatre Royal orchestra in Hamilton, and has frequently been heard from 1YA in unique piano improvisations. Mr. Gordon Eady (clarinet and saxophone). Mr. Eady comes from a family very well known in local musical circles of two generations. He was for some years clarinetist in the Bohemian Orchestra, and has played in leading orchestras of Auckland. For some time he was a member of the 1YA Orchestral Octet. _ Mr, Eric Waters, the organist of the orchestra, is already well in Auckland not only as a pianist and organist, but as a composer. He was for some time teacher of the piano at Nelson’s School of Music, and for the last few years, since the war, had been one of Auckland’s leading pianists and teachers. He composed the music for "Tutankhamen" and "The Abbess of Whitby," produced by the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society, and conducted these performances. .