MATINEE MUSICAL CLUB SUPPORTS JAZZ & DERBY PARTY

Members Celebrate National Music Week at The 1895

Vision Historic Preservation Foundation is honored to receive funding from the Matinee Musical Club (MMC) of Rockdale in celebration of National Music Week. MMC is nearly as old as The 1895 itself, and searching the archives of The Rockdale Reporter we found that Matinee Musical Club frequently performed in the upstairs Opera House - often in conjunction with other visiting performances.

Matinee Musical Club was organized and federated in 1909. Mary Ann (Coffield) Perry is credited with its founding on the front porch of her home (the corner of Green & E. Davilla Sts.) where a Texas Historical Marker has been placed. The club met and still meets regularly to study, perform and promote music. Yearbooks document annual themes, and programs in Classical and Folk music, Texas women composers and songs of American composers. Since 1987, a yearly scholarship has been presented to a graduating senior pursuing music. Matinee Musical Club is active in both the Texas and the National Federation of Music Clubs.

National Music Week can be traced back to 1915 and an idea by Charles M. Tremaine, setting aside one week each year to promote and celebrate music in the community. The idea grew until 1924 marked the inauguration of the first National Music Week throughout America.

Matinee Musical Club, promoting music since 1909, celebrates this years National Music Week May 1-8, 2022 with its theme: “Music…is Inspiration”. This year, to further promote NMW, the Matinee Musical Club has provided monetary support to Vision Historic Preservation Foundation's Music “Jazz & Derby Party” on May 7th to benefit the restoration of The 1895. The event will feature Sparky Thomason, a MMC member, and his Quartet, the talented Christian Wiggs, and local rising star Brook Graham.

MMC is a member of the Texas and National Federation of Music clubs.

Thank you for your support and for helping keep music alive in the hearts of our community!