“One member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records this week,” writes Gabbie Watts on Wednesday (2/3) at Atlanta television station WABE. “Bassist Jane Little, 87, will set the world record for the longest professional tenure with a single orchestra. Her career has spanned the whole history of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She joined the group in 1945 when it was still a youth orchestra … It turned professional in 1947… Little was married to the ASO’s principal flutist, Warren Little, for 41 years. ‘He was this big six-foot-2 tall guy, who played a little flute, and he could carry my bass for me,’ she said…. Little never wanted to leave the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. ‘From the time I got in, it was always getting better and better,’ she said…. When Robert Shaw took over the orchestra in 1967, he re-auditioned all of the members…. Little received an official contract and was appointed co-principal under Shaw…. An injury set her back from the season opener in September 2015, but when the assistant principal bass emeritus returns for this weekend’s concerts at Symphony Hall, she will begin her 71st season.”
Posted February 5, 2016
