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SIIKKMAN FRANK Musical Director Talent Under-the-Stars Productions scheduled by the Municipal Theatre Under-the-Stars at Chastain Memorial Park include Showboat, June27-July 9; Call Me Madam, July 11-16; Vagabond King, July 18-23; Guys and Dolls, July 25- 30; Student Prince, August 1-6; Annie Get Your Gun August 8-20. By CLAUICK (JKIGKRMAN When the Municipal Theater Under-the- Stars tfets underway this summer, it will boast one of the finest 20-piece orchestras in the country — with a new musical di- ,rector — Sherman Frank, who comes to Atlanta following a series of successful engagements throughout the country as ,mm*ert pianist and conductor. I The versatile and handsome young man [was born on May 4, 1925, in Philadelphia, jPa., the son of William and Anna Frank. His father is an employee of the U. S. Post Office in Philadelphia. His mother is a devoted and loyal housewife, who realiz ed that her son had a definite aptitude fx)r the piano even before he went to kin dergarten. When Sherman was four year old, he would pick out tunes on the piano with one finger. His mother decided that he was musically inclined and invited a neighborhood music teacher to discuss giving her son piano lessons. The teach er said that Sherman was too young and suggested waiting a few years. After Mrs. Frank told her good-bye, she called Sherman and could find him nowhere. A frantic search was made, and there hid ing behind the big sofa was tearv-eyed Sherman, his heart broken because the lady thought he was too little to take pi ano lessons. That did it! Mrs. Frank was determined that the first teacher’s nega tive attitude had offended her child, and that he definitely had a talent which could not wait. She proceeded to find another teacher, and when Sherman was four and a half years old, he began learning his ABCs on the keyboard. Anna Frank’s faith in her son’s talent was not unfounded. At the very young age of 10. Sherman gave his first public appearance. He appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia String Sinfonietta, a ERIC' MATTSON Managing Director group of musicians composed entirely of the Philadelphia Orchestra and conducted by Fabian Sevitzky. present conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony. He played the Haydn Piano Concerto in F Major and rceived rave notices by the critics. At that time, he was studying with Alexan der Kelberine, and at the same time was studying composition with Jeanne Behr- and, one of the foremost exponents of the native American music in this country. During the next few successive years, Sherman gave two full recital programs in New York City at the Master Institute, and received excellent reviews. During his early teen-vears, the young musician was interested in the normal ac tivities of his class-mates. He liked to play ball, to swim and play tennis, but with the consistant urging of his parents and with his moral subsconsciousness, he put practicing and studying before play. During his high school days, he devoted practically all his time to his music. In 1940, when Sherman was 15, he was auditioned and was accepted under a full scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Mu sic in Philadelphia. The audition was made possible through Jeanne Behrand, who was on the faculty. Sherman was accepted as a piano major, studying with the world-renowned pianist Rudolf Ser- kin. (He received both his professional and academic training at Curtis.) In 1943, when he was 18, Mr. Frank was divorced completely from music. He was called into the army, and was put into a machine gun company. He entered the Army at Ft. Meade, Md., and shortly thereafter he was transferred for training at Ft. McClelland, Ala. After receiving three months’ training. Soldier Frank was given an aptitude test, and since most mu sicians have a very good ear, he was cate gorized to radio school at Ft. Benning, There hi was trained as an Infantry Ra dio Operator, and upon completion of his course, was sent as an Infantry replace ment to England. He was stationed at Honito, a once very famous lace-making town, in the county of Devonshire on the southeastern coast of England. He played many concerts there and in the suround- ing commuities for soldiers on the posts GEORGE BEATTIE Scenic Manager The Southern Israelite (6)