tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915315601746686664.post427935848230044364..comments2024-03-24T19:32:14.632-07:00Comments on Knickerbocker Village: Henry Street Playhouse Opens: 1915. Grace SpoffordDavid Ballelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11350201711497257207noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5915315601746686664.post-84667192929064380612009-10-14T23:52:59.337-07:002009-10-14T23:52:59.337-07:00I'll always remember Miss Spofford with gretr ...I'll always remember Miss Spofford with gretr admiration and affection for the times I spent at "Henry Street" as a violin student of Joseph Knitzer, Paul Makanovitsky and Mara Sebriansky. Most particularly in the 2nd chair 1st Violins next to Paul in the Mozart CHamber Orchestra directed by Robert Scholz and earlier by my other teacher, Louis Persinger. It was not just a musical privilege but a life experience as faculty members were members of the New Friends of Music Orchestra made up largely of refugees from Europe (1930's and '40's)The War in Europe came home to us there. Paul Makanovitsky cancelled a Carnegie Hall concert to enlist in, I believe, the Canadian or British air Force, and was shot down and wounded. His mother and sister were in Paris when it became occupied. I couldln't concentrate on studying violin further and went to work for the War Dept on the West Coast, returning later to music as a career after marriage and family. So I achieved two of Miss Spofford's stated goals. Knitzer also joined the service in wartime.I will always cherish the years at "Henry Street",<br />SIncerely, Mrs. Robin Fentress Kernan <br /> Thank you Mr Bellel for posting the article. I would love to see the lists of personnel of the orchestra from 1938-1940?? Love to find surviving members. rkRobin Fentress Kernannoreply@blogger.com