Monday, September 28, 2020

UNCG Special Collections & University Archives Receives Collection of Violoncello Society of New York


The Violoncello Society of New York is very pleased to announce the donation of its extensive archive to the Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections & University Archives at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Included in the VCS archive are additional materials from the American Cello Council dating back to the 1930’s. VCS President, Kate Dillingham states, “It is a wonderful moment in the society’s history for the archive to have a permanent home. Our long legacy of cello playing and musical culture in the United States is now available for cellists and cello enthusiasts throughout the world to experience through photographs, documents, programs, and memorabilia. I look forward to working with Stacey Krim to feature items of interest from the archive for all to enjoy.”

It is the mission of the Violoncello Society of New York (VCS) to promote the art of cello playing in the United States, provide a common meeting ground for professional and amateur cellists, promote interest in the cello as a solo instrument, provide opportunity of performances for artist and composer, develop a broader and more mature understanding of the art of the cello, and further the members’ artistic development. VCS organizes and hosts events that enrich the community and advance the art of cello playing. Among the membership, past and present, is some of the greatest cello-talent in the United States and worldwide. The collection includes the business papers of the society, correspondence, and recordings dating back to the organization’s founding in 1956. The collection is now part of the UNCG Cello Music Collection, which is dedicated to acquiring, preserving, and making accessible cello music collections for research and learning. The UNCG Cello Music Collection contains the archives of two past presidents of the society, János Scholz and Bernard Greenhouse, and past vice-president, Nicholas Anderson. The VCS is now open to researchers by appointment for the 2020 Fall semester. If you are interested in accessing this collection or learning more about the UNCG Cello Music Collection, please contact Stacey Krim (srkrim@uncg.edu).