The first mention in a program of Marcel Tabuteau as ‘Conductor’ appeared in a single-page program for a Columbia Broadcasting System radio broadcast:
THE CURTIS INSTITUTE OF MUSIC
RADIO PROGRAMME
Monday, January 29, 1940 – 10:30 to 11:00 P M., E.S.T.
WOODWIND ENSEMBLE, conducted by
MARCEL TABUTEAU
And three months later in a program at Curtis:
THE CURTIS INSTITUTE OF MUSIC
CASIMIR HALL, SIXTEENTH SEASON—1939-1940
RECITAL OF MUSIC FOR WOODWIND ENSEMBLE
CONDUCTED BY MR. TABUTEAU
Assisted by Jorge Bolet, Pianist
FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 19, 1940, AT 8:30 O’CLOCK
Thus began Marcel Tabuteau’s ‘official’ conducting career. Prior to that time, the Curtis programs read: ‘Students of’ or ‘Under the Direction of’ ‘Mr. Tabuteau’ or ‘Mr. Marcel Tabuteau,’ or ‘Marcel Tabuteau.’ In truth, however, he did conduct before 1940 while coaching student ensembles* and for performances in Casimir/Curtis Hall** although not listed as conductor. From early 1940 through the end of the 1952-53 school year, Curtis programs confirm that he conducted a concert almost every year until he retired. He also conducted the Curtis Orchestra for the majority of their 1944-45 radio broadcasts at the K.Y.W. Radio studios. The links at the bottom of the page will take you to printed Curtis programs showing the repertoire that Tabuteau conducted.
Laila Storch mentions in her book a newspaper clipping announcing Tabuteau’s formation of an orchestra: Tabuteau to Conduct. The same announcement appeared in Musical America, February 10, 1941, p. 256: Philadelphia Men Form New Orchestra. [The orchestra never materialized most likely because Ormandy did not take well to competition conducted by a member of his own orchestra.]
*As early as 1926, the Curtis Catalogue states that the school’s orchestra classes “are designed to give students preliminary training in orchestral performance and are conducted by Marcel Tabuteau.”
**The first paragraph of an April 17, 1937 review in the Musical Courier (New York City) reads: “On April 4, students of Marcel Tabuteau in woodwind ensemble gave a rare and delightful concert in Casimir Hall of the Curtis Institute of Music, with Mr. Tabuteau conducting.”