W. S. MASON


The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 591
Kanawha

W. S. MASON, founder and president of the Mason School,
has through this institution given Charleston rank as a
capital of music and fine arts as well as the seat of the
state government of West Virginia. Mr. Mason is a native
of Charleston, and to this city he returned with the training
and honors of a broadly extensive musical education and
career, and The Mason School represents his earnest and
dignified efforts continued for sixteen years.

He was born at Charleston in 1873, and acquired his early
education in the city schools.  Later he attended St.
Joseph's Academy and St. Xavier's College in Cincinnati,
and while in that city began his serious musical training
and education in the Cincinnati College of Music. He was
a student there four years, and was given a thorough
groundwork in theory, harmony and composition. He took
up the violin as his special instrument. Subsequently he
studied one year in New York City and for three years in
Europe, principally at the Royal Academy in Munich and
in the Schola Cantorum in Paris. At Paris he was a pupil of
one of the greatest modern composers, Vincent d'Indy.
While in Europe Mr. Mason specialized in conducting and
in composition and theory of music. His musical talents
came into evidence when he was a boy, and for eight years
he gave his undivided energy and thought to his musical
education.

After his return to this country he was a violinist in
various orchestras and later an orchestra conductor. Then,
in 1906, he founded The Mason School of Music in his
native city. From the first he has kept this school on the
high plane of his individual ideals, and has broadened his
scope only as he could secure talent of similar qualifications
and equally high ideals. From a school of music it has
added departments until it now embraces instruction in
languages, arts and crafts, artistic dancing and dramatic ex-
pression. The school is an incorporated institution with Mr.
Mason, president, Harrison B. Smith, vice president, and
Matilda R. Mason, secretary and treasurer. Primarily The
Mason School is an institution for the training of persons
of competent talent for professional work in the musical and
allied arts, though an increasing number of students have
sought the school's advantages as a source of training for
general and well rounded culture.

In 1921 this school, with its various departments, occupied
a new home, a fine building at 1316 Kanawha Street. This
building was remodeled and enlarged to meet the special
requirements of the school. For several years Mr. Mason
has conducted the Charleston Symphony Orchestra in
Charleston. Under his direction this has become a notable
musical organization. Its weekly concerts, given on Sunday
afternoon, have become a prominent feature of the artistic
and musical life of the city.

Submitted by:  vfcrook@earthlink.net (Valerie Crook)

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