For 20 years, a Chicago orchestra has held weekly rehearsals, given public concerts. Only its conductor (George Dasch, of Northwestern University) is a professional musician. Its founder was bass-playing George Lytton, president of the Hub stores. Now an orchestra of 115 Chicagoans, 25 of its players are presidents or vice presidents of businesses. A doctor plays the piccolo, a dentist the trombone, a poultry farmer the trumpet, a onetime steel puddler the oboe. A waiting list of 200 eyes the orchestra hungrily : from the list, new players are chosen when members die or cut too many rehearsals.
Last week the Chicago...