News Release (March 20, 1964)

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-... NE w COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE NEW COLLEGE, SARASOTA, FLORIDA FURMAN C. ARTHUR INFORMATION FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, March 20, 1964 The Florida West Coast Symphony Orchestra and New College have agreed to affiliate in a far-reaching program to benefit both institutions and the community, it was announced at the orchestra's 15th Anniversary concert Thursday night. The 75 piece symphony and the college will retain complete independence in all but music matters, according to the joint announcement made at the concert in Bradenton's Municipal Auditorium. Major elements of the affiliation include: The music faculty at the college will play in the orchestra; the general faculty and student body will be e ncouraged to participate in the symphony's activities; facilities of both groups will be available to each other and events will be scheduled to avoid conflict; and the symphony society will continue its organizational, administrative and committee activities without change. It will continue to handle its own member-ship, public relations, financial and musical organization affairs. Mrs. Harry L. Mundy, president of the Symphony Society, and Dr. George F. Baughman, president of New College, commented on the unprecedented move. Mrs. Mundy said: 11To our friends, the membership of the Florida West Coast Symphony Orchestra, we proudly announce our affiliation with New College. This new venture on our part will open up to us a vast new outlook for the development of music in our communities and we feel sure it will bring added laurels to both parties concerned. (more)

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NEW COLLEGE -2 "This decision on our part brings no change in the conduct of our own affairs but will bring added prestige to all of our endeavors. We look forward to the 1964-1965 season under this affiliation with eagerness and enthusiasm." Dr. Baughman said: "It is with a genuine sense of pride that New College joins with the Florida West Coast Symphony Orchestra. We are truly inspired by the growth of this community institution over the past fifteen years, the dedication of its thousands of supporters and the wonderful way that it affords enjoyment to the music loving public. "Moreover, this certainly is another great event for New College and one which has rich promise for the future. With the affiliation with the Symphony, New College offers musically-inclined faculty and students one of the few college environments anywhere that is completely hospitable to their art or avocation. "Faculty and students will be able to participate in a variety of performing music groups including a full-sized symphony orchestra, several chamber music ensembles, and a youth orchestra. "This affiliation affords our communities, and, in fact all of Florida, a greatly enriched musical resource. The coming years should see New College's projected music facilities the scene of presentations whose quality and frequency are equalled only in large metropolitan centers. "We are frequently asked, 'Why and how is New College going to be different?' A major part of the answer can be seen in this union. At New College the striving musician can create a scholastic experience second to none in a liberal arts college. Now the musician-student also may enrich his studies by performances with an outstanding community symphony orchestra, greatly enlarging his experience." The bold program is in the tradition of the Symphony from its very inception. In 1949, when the area had less than one-third of its present population, (more)

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NEW COLLEGE -3 a small group of dedicated music lovers from Manatee and Sarasota Counties resolved to create a community symphony. The venture was considered impossible by many, but the initial concert was held less than a year later. In the 15 years that followed, the orchestra has played to some 122,500 peoples; held 92 subscription concerts, 11 pops concerts, plus annual public school recitals. The move is also in harmony with New College's basic objective of providing uncompromising excellence in education. A distinguished faculty, with world-renowned Arnold J. Toynbee as visiting professor of history, is being assembled for the Charter Class. A curriculum plan has been developed that permits flexibility and optimum conditions for great breadth of learning, real mastery of the student's principal field of interest and teaches the students how to continue learning throughout life. Other New College features are its extensive scholarship program, and a campus being totally designed by architect I. M. Pei to be an "environment for learning." The Charter Class is scheduled to enter in September. #