San Francisco-Marin County CA Archives Biographies.....Metcalf, Alice Lorraine ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com October 26, 2010, 1:37 pm Source: California and Californians, Vol. IV, Published 1932, Pages 89 - 90 Author: The Lewis Publishing Company ALICE LORRAINE METCALF is the second woman in the United States to hold the position of business manager for a Grand Opera Company, the first being the famous Mary Garden of the Chicago Civic Opera Company. The Pacific Coast Opera Company has been put on a permanent footing through the pioneer efforts of this very capable woman, Alice Metcalf, who was greatly inspired by her love for music. It was in the studio of Alice Metcalf in the Hotel Mark- Hopkins of San Francisco that plans were made and a budget arranged for the development of a local opera company, known as the Pacific Coast Opera Company, whose artistic director is Arturo Casiglia. The fame, as well as the aim and object of this organization, has created tremendous interest as well as the support of the entire Pacific Coast country. There are a number of other organizations for musical uplift in San Francisco that have similarly profited by the genius and perseverance of Alice Metcalf. In 1929 the Pacific Opera Company gave its first season of Grand Opera, at the Capitol Theatre in San Francisco, giving thoroughly artistic performances and playing to capacity houses. At the end of the season the business accounts were such as to justify the friends and supporters of opera to a continuation of the enterprise, which is now an established institution. This accomplished, Mrs. Metcalf resigned, to devote her entire time to the cause of the Young Peoples Symphony Concerts. Alice Metcalf was born in Annapolis Royal, immortalized by the great poet Longfellow as Arcadia, the land of Evangeline, in Canada. Her father was a native of Canada and her mother, Margaret Dolan, was born in Ireland. When Alice Metcalf was three years old her parents came to California, settling in San Francisco, later joining the early pioneer residents of Berkeley. Alice Metcalf received her education in private Catholic schools of San Francisco and Berkeley. In 1904 she became the wife of Peyton Wyeth Metcalf, a native of Berkeley, a direct descendant of George Wyeth, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. His family was distinguished both in the history of our country and in scholastic circles. His father graduated from Yale University with the class of 1870 and was also among the first class graduates of the Hastings Law College, (the law department of the University of California), in 1881, and was one of the first assistant professors of English at this same university. Mr. Metcalf's uncle, Martin Kellog, was president of the University of California. The first large purpose presented to the organizing mind of Mrs. Metcalf in her work in behalf of musical culture in San Francisco was to secure the advantages of symphonic music for the young people of the city. In 1923, with the aid of three similarly minded persons, the plans were made for the first concert. Funds had to be raised, endorsement of the board of education secured and general interest aroused. This accomplished, the first concert was given in the Civic Auditorium, under the direction of Alfred Hertz, conductor, before an audience of 8,000 children. For two years Mrs. Metcalf carried the principal burden of the undertaking, and, as is frequently the case in such projects, there was always a financial deficit to be met. In 1927 a friend and patron of the arts, realizing the very imminent possibility of the concerts being abandoned, encouraged Mrs. Metcalf to carry on her work by offering financial support, for a limited period. Today the Young Peoples Symphony Concerts, Inc., of which Mrs. Metcalf is now secretary-manager, is on a sound practical business basis. Having incorporated under the laws of California in May, 1930, and receiving an appropriation from the city to help carry on this cultural and educational work, an annual series of concerts are given in San Francisco, presenting the entire personnel of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Other concerts are given in the East Bay District and Marin County, and at Stanford University. It was under the patronage of the Young Peoples Symphony Concerts, Inc., that the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, with its regular conductor, made their first appearance at Mills College and in Marin County. Civic philanthropy could have no higher objective than the work being done by this organization, in the presentation of the programs of symphonic music to young people. Mrs. Metcalf pioneered in bringing the best of music to Marin County, presenting an artists series at the Dominican College School of Music at San Rafael, under her direction, for three years. Mrs. Metcalf has earned the gratitude of all music lovers of the San Francisco Bay region, not only for her work in presenting music for the young people but for her interest in the drama, having established and managed the Children's Theatre for two seasons as an independent activity of the Players Guild at the Bush Street Theatre in San Francisco. 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