~Wtt&1 - - Hoover Library

HonoraryDegreeHoward Mitchell, conductor of the NationalSymphony Orchestra, will receive anhonorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree fromWestern Maryland College during the orchestra'sannual concert at the College, Frt,day, March 4, in Alumni Hall.Mr. Mitchell's guidance has enlarged theSymphony and built it into a spirited Americanmusical organization. He has receivedthe citation of the National Music Councilfour times, a record which may never beequaled.Howard MitchellNew FacultyThree special instructors have been appointedto the faculty by Dr. Lowell S.Ensor, preSident, for the second semester.They include: Mrs. Cees Frijters, specialinstructor in business administration; Paul1". Meh~, special instructor in philosophy;Mrs. Elizabeth C. Wentworth, special instructorin philosophy.Mrs. Frijters, wife of the head of the~odern language department, is teachingIn place of Mr. F. Paul Keppel who is ill.The other two instructors are additions tothe faculty.P.aul F. Mehl is aSsociate professor andeh~lrman of the department of religion andphtlosophy at Hood College in Frederick.He is a graduate of Yale with his B.D. fromUnion Theological Seminary and the Ph.D.from Columbia University. Dr. Mebl hastaught at Vassar and at Union Seminary.He is the author of "Classic Creeds andLiving Faith."Mrs. Wentworth is a graduate of OccidentalColJege who received her M.A. andPh.D. degrees from the University of South,ern California. The new instructor is alsocurrently a member of the faculty of theUniversity of Maryland. She has taught atESSO GrantWestern Maryland College was one ofseven Maryland education institutions toreceive a recent grant from the Esso Edu,cational Foundation.page twelveComposer Howard Hanson has said thatDr. Mitchell "is to be praised for provingthat all American conductor could assumeimportant leadership in the development ofAmerican Culture; for demonstrating thequality of musical education in this countryand for setting standards as a man as wellas a musician, working with his orchestra ascolleagues rather than as servitors, to thegreat advantage of music-making, for hisfirm conviction that music is, and must remain,a living art,"The conductor's stature has been recognizedby the Washington Post as the manwho has brought the National Symphony to"an ascendant place among the great orchestrasof the country and as one of thebrilliant ornaments of the Capital." TheWashington Star has said that "The Cityand indeed the whole country owe him adebt of gratitude."Howard Mitchell was born in Lyons,Nebraska, and grew up in Sioux City, Iowa.He attended the Peabody Conservatory ofMusic in Baltimore and Curtis Institute ofMusic in Philadelphia. Mr. Mitchell is in hissixteenth season as music director of theNational Symphony.The conductor started in music early andat 12 earned money playing trumpet atdances. While in high school he masteredfour instruments. The leader of the school'sorchestra persuaded his student to take upthe cello when he was 15. Mitchell startedwinning cello prizes within a few months.A statewide prize won him a scholarship invioloncello to the Peabody Conservatory.He went on to win a scholarship to the CurtisInstitute, from which he graduated withhonors.While still a student, Mitchell joined theNational Symphony as first cellist. He wasappointed assistant cenductor in 1941 andsucceeded Hans Kindler as permanent conducm-in 1949.The National Symphony has played anannual concert at Western Maryland almostfrom its beginnings under Kindler. It is ahighlight of winter on the Hill. Dr. Ensorhas announced that the ceremony awardingthe degree will take place just before intermission.Dr. Mitchell has been honored bythe governments of Bolivia and Germanyin addition to receiving numerous musicalawards.