T"HIEMICI-TICANI D ATV Qt nAAr n it 1Ct! 'to a JUL i . . 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. I 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 11 j 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.- r* } . 11 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. I Robert Casadesus I His performances are 'brilliant and sparikling, and at the same * d time warm and intellectual. Robert Casadesus offers his audiences not only music, but also great mastery. * Ilooday l~e ~d~~Janay 19 'I 4p i 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 * * 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 * c possibilities as Vronsky and Babin." The New York Times. Dimitri Mitropoulos Tuesday Eveniug, March 3 ,- i lft AT' i II 11