The Grosse Ile Musicale
since 1932
The year was 1931 - the very depth of the Great Depression. Franklin
Roosevelt had just won reelection as governor of New York, King Alfonso
had abdicated as King of Spain after 15 centuries of rule by a monarchy;
Great Britain closed its stock exchange and went off the gold standard;
Japan invaded China, while a severe earthquake rocked Tokyo.
However, on beautiful and serene little Grosse Ile, population less
than 1500, a small group of women met at the home of Mrs. John Karmazin
on December 11, 1931 to formulate plans for a musical club. The dates
chosen were Fridays when there was no symphony concert in Detroit.
The first official meeting took place on January 15, 1932, with 56 charter
members. Mrs. Karmazin was the first president of the club to be called
the "Friday Musicale".
The original requirements for membership, as recorded in a January 1932
board meeting were: the ability to sing or play a musical instrument at
a regular meeting, prepare a paper on a musical topic, help to present
current musical events, or be willing to serve as patron of any public
performance sponsored by the Friday Musicale.
Subsequently the club was instrumental in involving the matter of music
in the Grosse Ile Schools, providing money for musical instruments and
music for the schools. The club presented two Gilbert and Sullivan operettas
- Pinafore in 1935 and the Mikado in 1937. It also sponsored an extension
course music, given by Prof. Glenn McGeoch of the University of Michigan.
In later years the musicale sponsored transportation to the free symphony
concerts for children. During the WWII years the club opened each meeting
by singing the national anthem.
The first mention of a Musicale - Sponsored scholarship appeared in
1938 for a "deserving island resident" - presumably a high school
student.
The club is now over 65 years old - and the Friday Musicale is still
going strong!
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