Holmes Bows Out With Last Orchestra Concert

Malcolm H. Holmes '28 will conduct the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra in his last performance at 8:15 p.m. tomorrow in Sanders Theatre. After 26 years as conductor, he is retiring because of new duties as Dean of the Boston Conservatory of Music.

Holmes was a member of the Orchestra during his four years as an undergraduate, acting as concert master when a freshman and as president in his senior year. He was a member of the Wellesley music department from 1935 to 1945.

Though Holmes will no longer conduct the orchestra he will continue his duties as head of the band.

Sodality Considers Successor

The executive committee of the Pierian Sodality is now discussing possible candidates to take over Holmes' post next fall. His successor will be announced sometime this spring, Harvey Weiss '51, publicity manager for the Sodality predicted last night.

Eighty performers, the largest number in the Orchestra's history, will play a program of six pieces for its first 1950 concert. The featured piece of the evening will be Mozart's Double Piano Concerto, played by Norman Z. Wolfsohn 3G and Seymour Hayden 2G.

Honor Professor Hindemith

The Orchestra will perform Five Pieces for Strings in honor of composer Paul Hindemith, Norton Professor of Poetry. Hindemith recently left for Europe when his father died. Holmes terms the piece a "most difficult and unusual work."

During the spring recess, the Orchestra made a tour of Southern colleges. A review in the Virginia Gazette said, "From his conspicuously well-trained group of performers, Holmes produces with apparent ease rich orchestral tones." The article called the concert "the most spirited ever heard."