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The Music Trade Review
Fifty McPhail Pianos
for Mills University
Fox Piano Co., McPhail Representatives in Oakland, Cal., Suc-
cessful in Putting Over Notable Deal With
Prominent California Institution
HE Fox Piano Co., Oakland, Cal., recently consummated a deal of no small significance
when they sold to Mills College in Oakland fifty McPhail pianos for a new music building
which has just been completed at a cost of $275,000. The sale was made and closed by Sales
Manager William S. Gibbs, Jr.
Mills College is an educational institution for girls, having a total enrollment of over seven
hundred students. One hundred and twenty-five of these students study music as their major
T
DECEMBER 29, 1928
selves teachers of merit and of ability to
younger generations."
Among the staff of teachers in the department
of music in Mills College arc some of the fore-
most musicians in the Far West, many of them
pupils of Lesclietizky, Moskowski, Godowsky
and Lhevinne. For three years the department
of theory has been under the direction of Do-
menico Brescia of the Bologne Conservatory of
Music. The music department comprises four
large classrooms, six studios and fifty practice
rooms.
In appreciation of these McPhail
pianos, a letter was recently received by the
McPhail Piano Co. from Luther 11. Marehant,
in which he said:
"When the committee appointed to select ;i
piano for use in the practice rooms of the new
Music Building at Mills College chose the Mc-
Phail piano, they based their judgment on tone
quality, evenness of scale and materials used in
the construction of the instrument.
"Since the delivery of the fifty pianos called
for in the order, we have been assured again
that our choice was the best. The finish, style
and appearance are an addition to any room,
but more important in this case looms the fact
that we have an instrument of clear, crystalline
tone, even registers and so constructed that it
can withstand the wear of constant practice.
"For prompt delivery, service and care in
finishing the cases and piano benches much
praise and appreciation is due to W. S. Gibbs,
of the Fox Piano Co., dealer in the McPhail
piano."
In the accompanying illustration there is a
reproduction of the new building in which these
pianos have been installed as well as of Becman
P. Sibiey, West Coast representative of the Mc-
Phail Piano Co.; W. S. Gibbs, manager of the
Fox Piano Co., and Luther P>. Marchant, dean
of the school of music in Mills College.
J. W. Boothe Forms Chorus
of May Co. Employes
Los ANI.HIKS, CAL., December 27.— In the
May
Company News for December the following
reference to J. W. Hoot he, manager ol the
Music Department, appears, "By his enthusiasm
In- has so imbued others with the love of music
that he has formed a store chorus, which has
increased in numbers until it now numbers over
a hundred voices. Mr. Boothe's object in form-
ing this chorus was to create a closer co-opera-
tion among co-workers throughout the store
and so successful has he been that in the near
future he anticipates broadcasting the chorus
over some of the prominent stations in Los
Angeles."
Otto L. Kroeger Dies
at Home in Buffalo
Above—Music Building of Mills College, Oakland, Cal. Lower Picture. Reading left to right
—W. S. Gibbs, Jr., Manager, Fox Piano Co.; Luther B. Marchant, Dean of Music School, and
B. P. Sibiey, Pacific Coast Representative of McPhail Piano Co.
course. There are fifteen music teachers under to the manifold tasks of the department, and
spacious enough to care for the great number
the direction of Luther B. Marchant, dean of
the school of music. This faculty formed a of students concerned. The department of
committee which passed on the purchase of the music at Mills College has been organized for
three-quarters of a, century. From pioneer days
McPhail pianos.
A glance at the prospectus of Mills College onward here in California, musicians from dis-
shows how particular are the trustees and the tant lands always found a place where their art
faculty in making their decisions, as the pur- was appreciated, and where through them op-
portunity was given youth to understand, to
pose of this institution is styled as follows:
"A group of scholars and artists in the field interpret, and to essay creative expression in
of composition, history and tcchnic, making it their chosen field. No one can measure their
one of the.most excellent departments of music influence making for better taste and for higher
in the country, is what Mills College has culture. Students in turn developed to take tlu
afforded its students and the community ever places of their instructors. Some entered the
since its first structure was erected in the name professional world far from the Pacific Coast
campus to make brilliant records on concert
of education.
"A building adapted to the college needs, platform and in opera. Far more in studios
beautiful in architectural style, adequate in plan and classrooms nearer home have proved them-
Lo, N. Y., J >eci'mber 27.—Otto L. Kroeger,
a veteran of the piano manufacturing trade, and
who for the past 20 years or more has been
connected with C. Kurtzman & Co., this city,
died at his home here on December 19. He is
survived by his wife, Jane D. Kroeger. Funeral
services were held here yesterday afternoon
and interment was in Greenwood Cemetery,
Brooklyn, to-day.
Mr. Kroeger was the son of Henry Kroeger,
founder of Henry Kroeger & Sons, a well-
known manufacturing house of New York City
some half century ago, and in his early days
was actively associated with his father in the
business.
Death of Herbert Moulton
LISBON, N. H., December 26.—-Herbert .Moulton,
president of the Lisbon Mfg. Co., makers of
piano cases and one of the largest lumber com-
panies in New England, died suddenly at his
home here last night.