T"HIEMICI-TICANI D ATV
Qt nAAr n it 1Ct! 'to
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Thor Johnson, Symphony Conductor,
...
Has Brnad Professional Background
P
By the time he was frAirt een, Thor
Johnson, brilliant young conductor of
the U~niversity Musical Society and
the May Festival concerts, was play-
ing the piano," the violin and the
trumpet.
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Campus Conductor
He was born in Wisconsin Rapids,
June 10, 1913, the son of the Reverend
and Mrs. Herbert Bernhardt John-
son. His early education was re-
ceived at Winston-Salema, 4orth Car-
olina, where he graduated from the
Reynolds High School. ,
jteceives Degree
In 1934 he graduated from the
University of North Carolina with
the degree of A. B. The following
year he received the degree of Master
of Musicology from the University.
The following year was spent in
study abroad during the summer at
the Mozarteum Academy in Salz-
burg under Bruno Walter, Felix Wein-
gartner and Hans Duhan. Later he
studied at the Leipzig Conservatory
under Hermann Abendroth and in
Prague under Nicolai Maflko.
During the summer of 1940 he was
under the tutelage of Dr. Serge Kous-
sevitzky.
Mr. Johnson has toured extensively
both in America and abroad. He has
conducted more than three hundred
performances {of the University Little
Symphony in $0 states; has played
of the Carolina Salon Ensemble, a
student organization of the Univer-
sity of North Carolina.
His professional activities have
been strenuous and varied. He is
Conductor of the University Musical
Society and the May Festival Con-
certs, as well as the University Sym-
phony Orchestra, the Little- Sym-
phony, and the Grand Rapids Sym-
phony Orchestra. This latter or-
ganization is of professional caliber,
and each year appears in numerous
public pertormances with audiences
of three o~ four thousand people,
and employing the services of impor-
tant musical soloists.
Founded Festival
He founded, and is Musical Direc-
tor of, the Asheville Mozart Festival;
founded the Carolina Salon Ensem-
ble; served as Associate Conductor of
thesNorth Carolina Symphony Or-
chestra.
In addition to duties as Conductor,
he holds the title of Assistant Pro-
fessor in Music Literature at the
University; and is Chairman of the
Associated American Orchestral Con-
ductors. He is also a member of Phi
Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity; Phi
Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi; and the
Order of the Golden Fleece.
Four Outstanding Orchestras
I r s . a Z.A V .F£11 L7 Lu 1 13. t: X , aY. i D L R B 1. 1 41~~3
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CLEVELAND SYMPHONY
THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA, now In its twenty-third sea-
son, is an excellent example of American cultural develop-
ment. Under the leadership of ARTUR RODZINSKI, who
is a leader in the musical world, the Cleveland Orchestra has
toured the United States for many years winning the praise
of critics everywhere.
Suip4at#Afternoon, 'oret nI b.e r
Prof. Thor Johnson will begin his
fourth season as conductor of the
University Musical Society and the
Cholral VUnio.
in numerous southern cities as vio-
linist in Lamar Stringfield's Instru-
mental Quintet; and as Associate
Conductor of North Carolina Sym-
pghony Orchestra; also as conductor
I ;at;a.-
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R OBERT
CASADESUS
c
Robert Casadesus was a favorite of
European- Inusic lovers long before
he appeared with Toscanini and be-
gan his -successful American career.
He is a -master of the pianoforte.
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Robert Casadesus
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His performances are 'brilliant and sparikling, and at the same
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time warm and intellectual.
Robert Casadesus offers
his
audiences not only music, but also great mastery.
*
Ilooday l~e ~d~~Janay 19
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Artur Rodzinski
CHICAGO SYMPHONY
THI& ORGANIZATION iS no stranger to Ann Arbor audiences.
It has participated in the May Festival (or thirty one con-
secutive years. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is the
third oldest in the nation. It has been under the leadership
of the distinguished conductor, Frederick Stock, since 190 5.
Sunday Afternoon, Novewber 30
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BOSTON
SMPRONY
[OR 'WELVE CONSLCUTIVE SEASONS the Boston Symphony
Orchestra has been playing to:and pleasing Ann Arbor aud-
iences. Again this year the University Musical Society takes
great pleasure in presenting tkis-fine organization under the
direction of one of Music's great personalities, Dr. Serge
Koussevitzky.
Wednesday Evening, Decenm ir 40
/
Frederick Stock
Serge Koussevitzky
,
VRONSKY
aJ BABIN
fi
Vitya Vronsky and Victor. Babin
were fellow students in Berlin. With
their marriage they renounced sep-
arate careers to create a combined
MINNEAPOLIS SYMPh1ONY
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP of Dimitri Mitropoulos the Min-
neapolis Symphony has come to be one of the most important
ensemble bodies in America. It has done much to enhance
the prestige of the Middle West as a cultural center. The
pronounced success of the orchestra's Ann Arbor debut con-
cert-last season Was such as to not only warrant but to de.
mandia:return engagement this season.
Tuesday, February 3
e
Vronskv and Babin
glowing art.
"Other teams have achieved notable results, but none heard
by this reviewer have been so perceptive of the medium's
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possibilities as Vronsky and Babin."
The New York Times.
Dimitri Mitropoulos
Tuesday Eveniug, March 3
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