50 Years of
Kalamazoo Symphony Memorabilia
This blog is dedicated to the memory of Alice Mullen (1918-2006), Principal Keyboard of the
Kalamazoo Symphony for nearly 40 years.
After she died, a large box was discovered filled with memorabilia from her years as a pianist and
soloist with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.
Alice's career with the KSO began in the mid-1950s. She began collecting articles, reviews and photos
at that time, and continued collecting long after her retirement in 1991, hence this archive!
The collection chronicles the development of the Kalamazoo Symphony under four conductors:
Herman Felber Jr., Gregory Millar, Pierre Hétu, and Yoshimi Takeda.
The above photograph shows Alice with guest conductor Luis Herrera de la Fuente when she
performed Manuel de Falla's Nights in the Gardens of Spain, Symphonic Impressions for Piano and Orchestra, with the Kalamazoo Symphony, January 14, 1964.
* * * *
All items are from Alice's Archives. KALAMAZOO GAZETTE articles and photographs are used
with their permission. Thank you.
Alice's Archivist would like to thank the KALAMAZOO PUBLIC LIBRARY for linking this blog to
their Local History website article: KSO: A Pre-History of the Kalamazoo Symphony (1891-1922).
www.kpl.gov/local-history/music/symphony-prehistory.aspx
This excellent article describes the vibrant musical life in Kalamazoo before and after the turn of the
century, before Leta Snow arrived on the scene and re-kindled the idea of a symphony orchestra.
For a comprehensive history of the Kalamazoo Symphony, click on the link below to the KSO website.
Once there, click on the Behind The Music tab, located at the top of the page. When you get to that page, scroll down and click on the tab, History, on the left-hand side.
www.kalamazoosymphony.com
Author Zaide Pixley has granted permission to quote from her 1997 book, GREAT ENSEMBLE:
The Story of the Kalamazoo Symphony. Thank you Zaide!
Mr. Rick Briscoe of ENCORE Magazine has granted permission to quote from various back issues.
Thank you Rick!
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PREVIEWS!... Upcoming on Alice's Archives
The postcard shows the stage of the Kalamazoo
Symphony's Starlight Pops concerts, on the
upper deck of Gilmore's Auto Park, at the
corner of South Street and Farmers Alley in
downtown Kalamazoo, (Julys from 1963-1972).
Louis Armstrong and Beverly Sills were among
the greats who performed with the KSO.
UPCOMING ARTICLES...
-KSO STARLIGHT POPS CONCERTS: Bright Idea! ~ 2 ARTICLES NOW PUBLISHED!
-SEE ALSO TITLE TAB: PREVIEWS... Take a Look!
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ALICE'S ARCHIVES presents a new feature at the TOP of this HOME PAGE!
A short article or series of photos will appear as soon as you enter the Alice's Archives blog site.
The subject matter of these postings will be expanded later on another page.
Watch the TITLE TABS to find the new page.
Check back often for new entries!
Welcome NEWCOMERS & OLD FRIENDS!
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Keep SCROLLING DOWN this page for existing articles:
"FROM K.U. TO KALAMAZOO"
"ABOUT THIS BLOG"
"ABOUT ALICE... AND C.H."
-Alice's Archivist
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