SEPTEMBER 27. L968
The N. C. Essay
Page 2
SIENA SESSION SHCVvS
PROMISING FUTURE
BY Dr. James H. Sehans
(Editor's Note: Doctor Sehans, /v-ierjcan co-pre
sident OF THE North CARoLiriA School of the Arts
Summer session in Siena v.as asked to write a
SU-1MARY OF the SUMMER SESSION FOR THIS PAPER,
Painful though the frustrations were last
SUMMER, NO-ONE CAN CHALLENGE THE BRILLIANT PER-
FORt’IANCE OF OUR STUDENT ARTISTS. THESE ARTISTS
RECEIVED STANDING OVATICi-JS FROM THE T.ALIANS WHO
ARE SO READILY CRITICAL OF AfJYTHItJG SHORT OF AR
TISTIC PERFECTION. THE QUIOTSSSEMCE OF ARTISTIC
PROFESSIOrWLITY ViAS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE ORCHESTRA
CONCERT IN Arezzo, despite a shall audience,
(small BECAUSE OF AN UNEXPECTED ADMISSION CHARGE
HADE FOR A PERFORMANCE THAT NEVER fJSCEIVED ADE
QUATE PROMOTION beforehand) OUR STUDENT ORCHES-
v:?A :!ET THIS DISADVANTAGE SO PROFESSIONALLY THAT
THE AUDIEtJCE STOOD ON ITS FEET IN APPLAUSE AFTER
THE SECOND HUMBER, (ilANY OF YOU WILL BE REMIND
ED OF ROGER STEVENS* STORY ABOUT THE LUNTS PLAY-
ING The Visit to a Dublin audience of only 49
PEOPLE and GIVITX3 IT AU THEY HAO). THIS IS THE
KIND OF PROFESSIOfJALITY Vfl-IICH PRODUCES ENTHU-
SIASfl IN AN AUDIEtCE fK3 MATTER WHAT ITS SIZE.
PRESIDENT OF PHE ITALIAN SENATE, AmINTORE
FANFANI, who HAS SPONSORED THE SU>1MER SESSION
FROM ITS INCEPTION, WJEW OF THE ORCHESTRA’S QUA
LITY AND DROVE FOR THREE HOURS FROM SOME AFTER
OFFICE HOURS THAT NIGHT TO ATTEt® AND TO APPLAUD
VIGOROUSLY. Governor Dan K. Moore of North
Carolina ai® riRs, Moore were also in attendance
AND I'/ERE tremendously PROUD OF THE PERFORMANCE,
AS VMS EACH MEMBER OF THE FACULTY,
In these cow^ents about the l958 North
Carolina Summer Session in Siena I hope to pro
vide A C0^JSTRUCTIVE FORMULATION OF ITS CURRENT
PROBLEMS AM) A PLAN FOR THEIR SOLUflCN, iE MUST
REflEMBER THAT THE SOLUTIONS FOUrJD ’1UST, OF NEC
ESSITY, OPERATE IN THE ITALIAN SETTir.'G,
It MAY BE HELPFUL TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT
THE Italian methodology presets a definite con
trast V/ITH THAT OF THE /ViERICAN. IN THE UNITED
States that is a high premium on efficiency and
PERFECTION OF LOGISTICS, V/ITH A LOW PREMIUM ON
traditional BEAUTY AND THE BEAUTY OF TRADITION,
In Italy, except in Rome, the reverse is true.
Tradition and its perfection have priority there
over innovation aw OVER CAREFUL PLAttfJING. THE
RESULTING INCOMPETENCE, WITH THE CHALLENGE IT
OFFERS, IMPLEMENTED BY VERBAL STRIFE, BECOME,
FOR THE Italians, motivating forces toward reach-
|^JG THE POINT OF FINAL ACTION. IN SIMPLER TERMS
foment TAKES AN EVENTUAL HEALTHY COURSE TOl-.'ARD
ARTISITIC SUCCESS. This is new, strange, and un
pleasant FOR the average AMERICAN STUDENT OF THE
ARTS, WHO, QUITE RIGHTLY, EXPECTS THINGS TO GO
sMorTi:LY. Realistically, however, during this
RAPID EXPANSION OF THE PERFORMING ART** IN '.MERI-
CA, STUDENTS HAVE TO EXPECT SOME OF THE SAME TY
PES OF PROBLEMS AT HOME AS WERE SEEN IN ITALY
OORIN6 THE SUMMER. ARTS MANAGEMENT IS A NEW
F|ELD{ AND THERE ARE TOO FEW PEOPLE TRAINED IN
THE DISCIPLINE. BUT HAPPILY BECAUSE OF THEIR
INNATE EMPHASIS ON EFFICIENCY, THE .AMERICAN STU
DENTS WILL PRODUCE QUICKER SOLUTIONS THAN WAS
POSSIBU IN ITALY.
.^FTER THE SECOND YEAR OF THIS NEW SlENA EN
TERPRISE, THERE IS FULL REALIZATION THAT STRONG
MEASURES MUST BE TAKE?J TO SECURE FIRM CONCERT
MAtlAGEME'fT. i/E TOOK CAREFUL NOTE OF T;iE riADE-
QUATE ARRANGEMENTS FOH REHEARSALS, =L, WEEK-
EIMDS, INSTRUHEfJTS, PERFORn;iMCEl'. SINCE
PRE-OPERATION PLAr.NING CAN ELIMINATE ALL THESE
PROBLEMS, EVERY EFFORT '.IILL BE MADE TO SCHEDULE
EACH EVENT IN ORDER TO ALLOW STUDEIJTS PUASAtrT
TRAVEL ARRANGEMEffTS, PROPER DRESSING AMD EATING
ACILITIES BEFORE A® AFTER CONCERTS, AND TO
K50VIDE FOR SUFFICIENT REST. ThE REASON WE CAN
BE SO POSITIVE ABOUT THESE MATTERS IS THE FIRF1
PROSPECT OF AN AMERICAN MANAGER NOW IN RESIDENCE
IN ITALY, Also of major importance, A GREAT DE
AL OF THOUGHT IS BEirKS GIVEN TO THE COtBUCTOR
A(1D TliE C0MDUCTIt*5 PROGRAiM,
There is a strong likelihood that the ses
sion ITSELF WILL PROVIDE ALMOST ALL ITS OWN INS
TRUMENTS NEXT YEAR. WITH A PROGRAM ONLY TWO
Years old there can be great flexibility, Af!D \-m
ARE mot LOCKED IN TO PRECOfJCEPTIONS OR FIXED
PLANS.
Our SOLE cotifiiTHEOT IS to Siena and that
only as a SPRINGBOARD. THIS IS BECAUDE THE PRO
GRAM initiated BY t^;e Italian Government placed
IT in 3l£t.5;, and the CONTRACT IS ViRlTTEM THAT
VJAY, The OFFICIALS ARE HOPEFUL OF BUILDING S|-
EW IfJTO A CULTURAL CEWER - REALIZING FULLY
TilAT V;h|LE it !^AS all THE BEAUTY WE KNOW ABOUr,
Ti-IE APT TREASURES AND THE AcCADEMIA ClilGIANA, IT
ALSO NEEDS A NEW I^UECTIO^J FROM OUTSIDE FOR
NEW ARTISTIC FOCUS.
This does not mean that ue cannot pun more
OF OUR concerts IN THE SURROUtJDUiG AREA. WE
MUST BUILD ON THE ORCHESTRA'S GREAT SUCCESS IN
3AN LUCHESE, for EX/iMPLE. THE WHEELS ARE AL
READY TURNING TO INSURE, WITHOUT FAIL, THAT
PROPER, REGUUR REHEARSAL SPACE IS PROVIDED. V.'e
HAVE SHOli/N THE OFFICIALS THAT THIS IS AN ABSO
LUTE EssErnriAL.
Return I tNK3 for a MOftsNT to the performance in
THE Basilica of San Luchese there is an iotrigu-
I'JG question here as TO THE REASON FOR THE
"STAIBiriG ROOM ONLY" AUDIENCE AT THAT LOCATION,
ONLY TWENTY MINUTES OUTSIDE OF SlENA. ThIS PRE
SECTS A CHALLE^K5E TO PROMOTE T::E 5A.’1E KINDS OF
ALCIEMCES in SIENA. '.;ELL PLACED, ADVANCE PU3LI-
CITV OF THE SORT TO BE EXPECTED FROM THE NEW
CONCERT MANAGER, WILL HELP US 3UILD THESE AU'I-
5NCES.
There is no attempt to conceal the diffi
culties ENCOUNTERED, NOR ARE WE IHPUUSIBLY OP
TIMISTIC, BUT '.IE DO HAVE THE COOPERATION OF flAflY
KEY Italian officials, who with complete appre
ciation OF THE Summer Session taleot and quality
REALIZE THE TROUBLES V/E ENCOUNTERED AND ARE HELP
ING US PLAN FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE OPERATION. THE
APPRECIATION OF THE ’iORTH CAROLIt'IA SuriER SESS
ION’S "(UALITY HAS BEEN SO GREAT THAT THE SESS
ION HAS BEEN ASKED TO BRI'G PART OF T'lE DAriCE
DEPARTMEfrr NEXT SUMMER, AfJD THE ORCHESTRA HAS
BEEN irVITED TO OPEN THE S;TTIMA(nIA SENESE - THE
AccADEr-iA Chigiana’s An'iual Festival. This is a
DEFir;|TE COMPLIMENT. "
/E CAN SEE POSSI»l> ITIES OF A FESTIVAL OF
OUR Ol/N - IF NOT I S|:nA - TT^EN IN A NEARBY
SPOT LIKE THE BASILICA OF SAN LUCHESE.
All OF THIS IS TO say that vje are ;«rki'jg
STEAniLY AIE ASSIDUOUSLY TO STRENOT.iE!! THIS SUM
MER PROG'JAf; If: EVERY WAY ALOfJG THE LINES SUGGES
TED BY STUDEfJTS APD FACULTV' ALIKE. Ttlf INSPIRA
TION OF VWRKING TOGETHER AfC PROVIDIfJG A VITAL
PROGRAM FOR SUCH DEDICATED AND TALENTED STUD'NT?
IS SUCH THAT WE l/ILL NEVER STOP IN OUR QUEST Ufl-
riL PERFECTION IS REACHED,
A CHALLENGE
By Anthony Fragou
The function of a SchooX Mewspaper at the
North CAR0Ll^iA School of T!-;e Arts ha«j "'^t been
FULLY EXPLORED. A MEWSPAr'ER AT NCSA CA'l BE MORE
than a MEAGER SHEET OF PAPER WITH SCRAPS OF ItJ-
FORMATION OR "HARD NEWS. HOV/EVER, ^IEV.'S OF T^E
SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS PERIOD OF GRC.aTTH
AND TRANSITION, IS ESSEOTIAL TO EACH FACULTY
MEMBER AND STUDErJT IF CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION
BET.'/EEN THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS ARE TO BE OPENED
AtD AWAREtJESS OF THE SCHOOL AS A UNIFIED EOTITY
IS TO BE FOSTERED,
In ADDITION, THE fj.C. EsSAY IS IN A UNIQUE
POSITION TO ACT AS A f!EANS OF STIMULATING INTER
EST FOR EACH DEPARTMEW, VWETHER IT BE DAfCE,
MUSIC, DRAMA, SCIENCE, OR GOVERMt-lENT. INSTEAD CF
T!1E N._C. EsSAYBEING ONLY A BULLETIN BOARD OF
lirORMATION PERTINENT TO MCSA, THE M.C. ESSAY.
WITH THE CO-CPERATION OF THE STUDENT BODY AMD
FACULTY, CAN DEVELOP I^^TO A DIALOGUE BET'^EEN THE
VARIOUS DEPARTMEOTS. REVIEWS OF PLAYS, CONCERTS,
BOOKS, FILMS, V/ELL WRITTEN ARTICLES ABOUT A PHI
LOSOPHY OF AJrr OR THE AIMS AND TEa-IMIQUES OF AN
ItlSTRUCTOR (see HARVEY JACOBSON’S FU'E ARTICLE
IN THIS V.'EEK’S ,W.Cjt-£?SAY), AND LETTERS TO TH*:
EDITOR, EITHER REFUTING OR C0ND0NIM3 SUCH VIEV.'S,
WILL HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR OVW CRITICAL
SEt'JSIBILITY - A SKILL WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR
SELF-IMPROVEMENT A>n3 EXCELLENCE.
SCHOOL NEWSPAPERS ARE OFTEN STIFLED 3Y A
LONG TRADITION 5EHUJD THEM. \CSA V;AS CREATED SO
THAT TEACHERS AND STUDEffTS OF THE ARTS COULD BE
FREE FROM SUCH COTOTRAINTS. THE H.C. ESSAY IS
ALSO FREE FROM FORMALITY; IT CAN DEVELOP INTO A
SCHO". NEV/SPAPER THAT IS TRUELY REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE arts; ONE THAT FACULTY AND STUDENTS WILL
LOOK FORV/ARD TO READING. THIS CAN ONLY OCCUR IF
BOTH STUDENTS AND FACULTY ARE WILLING TO CONTRI
BUTE ARTICLES, V/HETHER THEY BE CRITICAL ESSAYS,
REVIEWS, OR POEMS.
liOPEFULLY, CONTRIBUTIONS WILL INCREASE IN
V0LU1E UtJTIL ENOUGH MATERIAL WILL BE COMPILED TO
BEGIN A ri^OFESSIONAL JOURNAL INDEGENOUS TO THE
■,'oRTi Carol IVA School of the Arts. This journal
COULD BE SE^^T TO OTftP INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT
THE STfTE COUNTRY, OPIATING lOTEREST .'vIOT ON
LY IN THE SCHCOL, ni/T ALSO IN THE ARTS.
Of COURSE, THIS IS A LONG RANGE, BUT
IT IS BY NO MEANS AN IMPOSSIBLE OR FAR-FETCHED
ONE. l-HETriER OR NOT THIS GOAL IS ACHIEVED RESTS
ENTIRELY ON TIE ENTHUSIASM A® WORK OF BOTI THE
STUDENT BODY At® FACULTY, AND IT SEE?/IS THAT AT
THE MORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF Tl'E ARTS, ';WERE
PEOPLE ARE DEVOTED TO THE ARTS, SUCH ENTHUSIASM
SHOULD BE PLErJTIFUL.
THE NC ESSAY STAFF
CO-EDITORS Tony Seoter
Lynn Bernhardt
Music co-editors mark Walsh
Celia sparger
Dance Editor .....Sandra Williams
I Typist Harold Ingram
I Feature David Wood
Photography Cathy Casper
I Advisor AhTOONY Fragou
atjention
Students are remi'joed that Monday, Septem
ber 50, IS the last possible day to drop a
CL/iSS. ^^RS. fiARION FlTZ-SlMONS, ACADEMIC ADVI
SOR TO THE College, reminds students that any
CUSSES dropped after Monday will be recorded on
PERI’ANENT RECORDS.