Fonds 29 - Conservatory Chamber Music Club fonds

The Conservatory Chamber Music Club of the Toronto Conservatory of Music (TCM) was sponsored by members of the Conservatory Quartet (Elie Spivak, Harold Sumberg, violins; Cecil Figelski, viola; and Leo Smith, cello). They held their first meeting on November 29, 1937 at TCM with William Haehnel, president and Phyllis Parker, secretary. Other members of the initial executive were Molly Sclater, librarian; Emily Baker, rehearsals; and Persis Hebden, convener. The Club aimed to present chamber music rarely heard elsewhere, including a minimum performance a one original Canadian compositions at each meeting. They also formed a Chamber Orchestra of approximately 22-25 members, conducted by a music student (Frank March, 1937-1938; Wilfred Powell, 1938-1939; and Broch McElheran, 1939-1940).

Membership was open to students of TCM and other institutions, and ranged from 65 to 170 people. The Club met monthly throughout the school year (September or October to May), usually at TCM. Meetings included performances and guest lectures and refreshments for informal discussions. In November 1941, after the Musicians' Union decreed that no member could perform at a Club meeting without a fee, the Club turned to "impromptu chamber music," whereby instead of a pre-scheduled program, members would bring their instruments and perform chamber music together ad hoc.

Guest speakers at Club meetings included Leo Smith, Viggo Kihl, Donald Heins, Ettore Mazzoleni, Norman Wilkes, Sir Ernest MacMillan, Frederick Horwood, Hugo Burghauser, and Elie Spivak. Original Canadian compositions included those by Patricia Blomfield, William Haehnel, Robert Manson, C.M. Birkett, Martin Chenhall, Thomas J. Crawford, Walter McNutt, Healey Willan, Godfrey Ridout, Ernest Farmer, John Weinzweig, Godfrey Ridout, Mrs. Piersall, Horace Lapp, George Coutts, Barbara Pentland, Robert Fleming, and Marcus Adeney.

In 1939, Chris Wood took over as president and Elinor K. Doan replaced Phyllis Parker as secretary. Godfrey Ridout was president during the 1942-1943 academic year.