The Beginning of the Orchestra
This is the story of a musical adventure, the development of the Allen Park Symphony. The idea was suggested in the Spring of '54. As active members of Woodmere Methodist Church and neighbors of S.W. Detroit, Harold Gloyd and I were friends. Impressed with the fine annual music festivals at Woodmere, under my direction, Harold approached me on the idea of organizing and conducting a small orchestra in Allen Park. The purpose of such a venture was to serve as leisure time musical activity for non-professional musicians. Thus, the Kraynaks in the process of moving to Allen Park, were imbued with the idea of developing the musical future of the new community.
Arthur Stephan and I were studying conducting at Wayne University and performed numerous musical engagements together. We began to give serious thought to starting an orchestra in the modern community of 35,000, Allen Park., then a village. Ideas grew eventually in terms of expanding to thoughts of a 50 piece symphony. Inquires brought to attention that orchestras had been started in adjoining cities, but had failed through lack of organization and apathy of an uninformed public. Further studies found that Grosse Pointe and Plymouth were succeeding in maintaining symphony orchestras. Interviews with Wayne Dunlap, Conductor at Plymouth, and Helen Thompson, Executive Secretary of the American Symphony Orchestra League, aided in solving the problem.
Thus the decision to go ahead was made. Relinquishing any notions of conducting to Arthur Stephan, I turned my attention to starting a sponsoring organization as Chairman of the Founding Committee. Constant reference to the book, "The Community Symphony Orchestra", from the American Symphony League, aided us in the job of gaining some community support and in a few months we called a meeting at the Allen Park Presbyterian Church. We started our first meeting fundless, but with many ideas.
During the next ten week, lengthy meetings of the Board were held every Sunday evening with numerous committee meetings weekday nights. We worked to adopt a basic structure in which to operate; establish policies and by-laws; organize committees; recruit players; solicit financial backing; etc.
So, the big hurdle was overcome. The years following were filled with other challenges. These were met by many dedicated people who have aided and benefited by their Symphony and Association. We have a symphony orchestra that has been far reaching in scope in other states and countries. Each year we draw deserved attention from the musical world.
We, as members of the Allen Park Symphony Orchestra Association can be justly proud of this kind of personal effort and if its contributions to our own community.