A senate RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of martha maxine mcmahon swalin for her contributions to the north carolina symphony.
Whereas, Martha Maxine McMahon Swalin, affectionately known as Maxine, was born on May 7, 1903, and was a native of Iowa; and
Whereas, Maxine Swalin graduated from the Institute of Musical Art (later known as the Juilliard School of Music) in New York with a diploma in theory and piano in 1928 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1932 and a master's degree from Radcliffe College in 1936; and
Whereas, Maxine Swalin moved with her husband, Dr. Benjamin Swalin, to Chapel Hill in 1935, where he taught in the music department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and
Whereas, after learning that the North Carolina Symphony had dissolved, Maxine Swalin and Dr. Benjamin Swalin took it upon themselves to revive the symphony and make it a successful cultural asset for the State; and
Whereas, in 1939, Benjamin Swalin began serving as the unpaid director of music and conductor of the symphony and Maxine Swalin began serving as an accompanist to the symphony's soloists; and
Whereas, Maxine Swalin later served as one of the coordinators of the music education programs and as an executive assistant to the director of the symphony; and
Whereas, the revived symphony held its first formal concert on March 16, 1940, at Meredith College in Raleigh and then began playing concerts across the State; and
Whereas, the Swalins were especially interested in providing music to school children and established the children's concert division of the symphony in 1945; and
Whereas, the Swalins played a role in the passage of the legislation known as the "Horn‑Tootin' Bill" which provided an annual appropriation to the symphony and officially recognized the symphony as the nation's first State symphony; and
Whereas, with the Swalins' help, the Symphony gained national recognition and was the recipient of various grants and fund‑raising efforts; and
Whereas, the Swalins retired from the Symphony in 1971, leaving behind a very successful orchestra; and
Whereas, Maxine Swalin published her autobiography, "Symphony, An Ear to Myself," in 1996; and
Whereas, Maxine Swalin received many honors and recognitions, including the North Caroliniana Society Award in 2003, given to a North Carolinian who makes extraordinary contributions to the State's history, literature, and culture; the first annual lifetime achievement award for the performing arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005; the North Carolina Award for Public Service for her many years of support of the North Carolina Symphony in 1989; and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Duke University for her many contributions to music and music education in 1979; and
Whereas, Maxine Swalin was honored by the North Carolina Symphony when the organization named its first annual Outstanding Music Educator Award in her honor and she and her husband were honored when the lobby of the Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh, the home of the Symphony, was named the Swalin Lobby, complete with a sculpture representing the Swalins; and
Whereas, Dr. Benjamin Swalin died in 1989 and Maxine Swalin died on October 8, 2009, at the age of 106; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
SECTION 1.  The Senate honors the memory of Martha Maxine McMahon Swalin and expresses the appreciation of this State and its citizens for her contributions to the North Carolina Symphony and the culture of this State.
SECTION 2.  The Senate mourns the loss of Martha Maxine McMahon Swalin.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.