PAGE 2
N.C. ESSAY
TUESDAY, FEBURARY 5, 1974
Martin Sokoloff, Number Two Man,
Calls the Issues As He Sees Them
By MARSHALL THOMAS
F.ssay SCaff Reporter
Martin Sokoloff, dressed in a white
shirt, business-like tie and gray trousers
greeted a reporter with a smile and
asked for the questions to begin.
“I was bom in Cleveland, Ohio. My
father was the founder and the first
conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra,”
he said. The statement served as the first
indication of the life-long history of
association with the arts from the
school’s number two man.
In an hour-long interview the 51-year-
old former violin and viola player gave
his views on funding, faculty, life at
NCSA and his classic gripe.
Sokoloff graduated from the
Manhattan School of Music but never
played professionally. “After the
Manhattan School I worked with
Colombia Artists Management. I was the
tour manager for the British pianist,
Clifford Curzon and for Heifetz. I was
also a representative for Community
Concerts, Inc.”
He returned to his alma mater as head
of public relations and eventually
became that school’s administrative
director. He credits his many years at
Manhattan with preparing him for his
current job.
He came to the School of the Arts as
administrative director at the invitation
of Robert Ward. He is responsible for the
administration and business operation of
the school. “I also have been delegated
certain responsibilities by the chan
cellor, ” Sokoloff said, and I work very
closely with him, supplementing some of
the duties of the chancellor. In general.
I’m responsible for the day-to-day
operation of the institution.”
Sokoloff believes that the major
problem that the school faces is money.
In spite of the fact that this is the highest
cost-per-student institution in the UNC
system, we still need money to upgrade
faculty salaries and money to support
new programs currently under con
sideration.
“New programs include the Institute
for Creative Arts and the honors
pro^am in the creative arts (submitted
during the Three Days in January) and a
film and TV program.
Sokoloff pointed out that the amount of
funds that can be obtained from the state
is limited but added, “we are currently
asking for $100,000 in new positions and
new programs. Among our requests is a
r^istrar, we don’t have one, as such, and
a new security guard. You never get
everything you ask for, though. It
depends on how much money the
legislature gives the UNC system.”
The administrative director, speaking
openly and easily commented on the
faculty at NCSA. Asked how the school
afforded to pay some of its more well-
known faculty, he said, “One of the
reasons is the dedication of those people
to teaching. Also many have outside
work, such as concertizing or other
teaching assignments. To keep the
quality of teaching that we currently
have and to get that quality in new
positions, we are going to have to find
new sources of money.”
On the subject of flying in visiting
teachers, he said “There is a certain
advantage to that, and in certain cases I
think we will always continue that.But
we are trying to build and keep a per
manent faculty here because the con
tribution they can make to the com-
mumty and to the school, in addition to
their teaching, is a substantial one if
Martin Sokoloff: At work, at play
Ksssy Photo By Brandt Clark
they’re really living here and are part of
the school family.”
He used the example of William
Vachiano to illustrate the exception.. “It
made more sense,” he explained, “to
have Mr. Vachiano as a visiting teacher
here on a permanent basis than to find
someone of lesser talents, as he is
perhaps the world’s best trumpet
teacher. We probably could have gotten
someone younger and less experienced to
move down here, but they wouldn’t have
had the ability to draw high caliber
students that Mr. Vachiano has.”
On faculty in general he said, “I am
constantly impressed with the overall
excellence that this faculty has in this
institution on every level. I will stress the
academic as well as the arts. I think we
are very fortunate to have the quality of
faculty in the academic school that we
have, and to have people who, although
they themselves are not in an arts area,
are so dedicated to the concept of this
school. I think sometimes people don’t
realize that, or don’t appreciate it.”
Comparing life as administrative
director of NCSA with the same position
at Manahttan, Sokoloff said, “For me, I
have found life down here infinitely
superior to that in New York. I’ve never
been in a situation with so many gifted
young people in one place. There were a
lot of talented kids at Manhattan but they
were all in music. Everytime I see a
production at this school, whether it be
drama, dance, opera, the orchestra, or
what (the work that the Design &
Production people do is amazing), it is
almost unbelievable to me that this much
talent could be in one place. I think, by-
and- large, most of the students are nice
people.”
“If there is a drawback that I’ve
found,” he continued, “it’s that in this
position that I hold I find far less op
portunity to know students and to deal
with students than 1 had at Manhattan
where I personally knew 300 kids. I was
with the kids constantly and knew them
on a first name basis.”
“Here, he said, “it has been very slow;
some people sort of know my face but
that’s it. One of the reasons is that the
students are in a structure here (and it’s
a very normal thing) where they deal
with fteir deans. So it does not (and I
r^ret it) offer the opportunity to see and
know students, although this year I seem
to have gotten to know more students
than ever before.”
On the subject of a new chancellor,
Sokoloff said, “I can only hope that I can
have the kind of association with the new
chancellor that I’ve had with the old one,
a relationship that has been most
gratifying in every way. I think I’ll add
as a comment that Mr. Ward is going to
be terribly difficult to replace because of
his unique qualifications for this school.
He is an artist of the first rank, he’s an
excellent administrator, he’s a person
who is highly regarded in every level in
this state, both in state government, the
university, and people throughout the
state. I think it is very hard to find that
kind of combination and I hope we do. We
trust that the selection committee will
have the wisdom to find somebody who
can really fill his shoes, but it’s going to
be a difficult job.”
What bothers Sokoloff most about
NCSA, he says, “is the vandalism and
lack of respect for the institution on the
part of a small group of students. I find
that very frustrating.”
“As an example,” he explained, “we
really made an effort this summer to
repaint and redecorate much of the
music school area including the practice
rooms because the students have always
argued they put cigarettes out on the rug
because the place looked so bad. So we
tried to have the place improved
physically yet we still have to deal with
this problem of people who have no sense
of caring that this is their home, of sorts.
Again I stress that it’s a small group of
students and I think that it frustrates and
irritates the majority of students here
too.”
Pollock Plans Replacements
HOTTON, from Page 1
Replacements for Hotton ana Jaeger
will be selected in accordance with
changes in the drama program now
being considered for next year.
Pollock said, “There is a good
possibility that there will be a junior year
in England. In that case, we will not need
Deans Bow Out
Mrs. Fitz-Simons, Mrs. Young (sitting)
RETIRE, From Page 1
like Mrs. Fitz-Simons, worked in
drama. She has acted with the American
Art Theater, Chicago, 111., and The Lost
Colony. She was director for the Com
munity Arts Theater in Urbana, 111., and
has worked as company manager for
Unto These Hills, Cherokee, N.C.
Dr. Janet Joyner and Mrs. Jane Van
Hoven of the academic faculty will be
taking over the duties of Mrs. Fitz-
Simons and Mrs. Young on a tem
porary, part-time basis beginning in
September.
(Watch for a more personal view of
Mrs. Fitz-Simons and Mrs. Young in an
upcoming issue of the Essay.)
as large a faculty as we presently have.
As soon as it is clear what positions we do
need to fill, we will set about looking for
the very best replacements we can find.
This will be complicated by the fact that
we have to follow elaborate procedures
required of us by the Equal Opportunities
office of HEW and will take a good deal of
time.”
When asked if either of the resignations
were the result of the faculty evaluation
forms filled out by drama majors at the
end of the first term. Pollock said, “In
neither case was it a direct result of the
students’ evaluation forms.”
Pollock added, “I think I have some
understanding of their reasons for
resigning, but neither said I am resigning
for this or that reason.”
Asked if he felt the department was the
cause of their leaving. Pollock stated, “I
think each has his own reason for leaving
and no comment.”
Hotton explained his reason for
resigning, “It was made very clear to me
by Uie superiors of the school that I
wasn’t wanted here.”
Dr. Jaeger had no comment on his
reasons for leaving.
Chancellor
List At
Ten Names
CHANCELLOR, From Page 1
people in the arts for suggestions and
recommendations.
I’he committee was formed following
the resignation of Robert Ward, a
precisely orchestrated move almost as
much of a surprise in Chapel Hill as it
was in Winston- Salem.
The process of giving the private word
to close friends, of holding a meeting with
the deans, of notifying President Friday
by official letter and of making it public
took less than a week.
The school community was told in an
open convocation at the exact time
Friday issued a press release announcing
Ward’s decision.
Carroll, is on the school’s board of
trustees and is the same man who headed
the committee that found Ward. Other
members of the committee are Philip
Hanes, chairman of the board of Hanes
Dye and Finishing Co.; James Clark and
James Semans, both of the NCSA Board
of Trustees, Clifton Matthews, Duncan
Noble, Marion Fitz-Simons, Lesley Hunt,
and John Kavelin, all of the NCSA
faculty; Susan Summers, student body
president; and John Williams, NCSA
alumnus.
Over 100 Names
According to interviews with some
members of the commitee, the group
began its work by drawing up a list of
names of possible candidates, including
suggestions from all parts of the school
community. This first list contained well
over 100 names. The committee held
several meetings to trim the list down.
Considerations focused on several major
factors, those interviewed said.
One of the most important questions
asked about a name on the list is the
general availability of the candidate,
committee members said.
Mrs. Fitz-Simons said that coming to
head the School of the Arts would mean
leaving a career somewhere else. Will
the dean of a prestigious music school or
a successful theatrical producer leave a
large metropolitan area to move to and
work in Winston-Salem?
It’s a major decision, the turning point
in a career, Mrs. Fitz-Simons said.
Taking the job as chancellor could mean
a substantial cut in salary (the chan
cellor is paid about $31,000 a year), said
Kavelin.
It would mean a commitment of at
least several years duration to the
school, said Carroll.
No Dilettante
Search committee members said
additional questions before them in
clude: Do we want an administrator or
an educator? A performer or a critic?
“A new chancellor must be interested
in training artists. He can’t be a dilet
tante in any way,” said Kavelin.
“Unfortunately, Jesus Christ isn’t
available,” said Mrs. Fitz-Simmons.
Search committee members said they
are also asking: Does he get along with
people? Is he basically open and honest?
What is his family life like?
There is no question that Robert
Ward’s sophistication and personality
have helped the school, Carroll said. He
gets along well with legislators and other
important people like foundation
presidents and corporation executives,
Carroll said.
Because of his stature, Mrs. Fitz-
Simmons said. Ward has a reputation for
being able to persuade the most creative
and influential personalities in the arts to
add their talents to the school. And she
added, he can do it on a first name basis.
Discreet Inquiries
The list changes as names are added
and removed, Carroll said. At this point
Carroll and Hanes are making discreet
inquiries about the candiates all over the
country. Often they’ll ask one candidate
for information on another when neither
know they’re on the list, Carroll said.
Hanes and Carroll are interviewing
and reporting back to the committee,
Carroll said. Eventually the list will be
cut to four names then to two by March.
The final two names will be submitted to
our Board of Trustees, thenrto President
William Friday and the University of
North Carolina Board of Governors for
the final decision, Carroll said.