BOYS WITH TALENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 90, 26 January 1938, Page 6

BOYS WITH TALENT

IN MOUTH ORGAN CONTEST.

WINNERS OF THE SECTIONS

THF. FINALS ON FRIDAY

Playing of an extremely high order has been a feature of the mouth organ competition which is being conducted by the St. James Theatre and audiences have been very enthusiastic during the sections that have been decided over the last three weeks. Good entries were received in each and the winners of the first and second prizes and the consolation prizes have been:—

Section One (under 12 years) —Tom Healey 1, Dougal Connor 2, Keith Jackson and R. Norrish.

Section Two (under 14)—Norman

Olds 1, Alan Green 2, Burton Bowden, Frank Porter, and Robert Dobson. Section Three (under 16) —Jim Bulmer 1, Jim Thomas 2, Athol Hill and Wallace Hands.

The finalists, twelve in number, will take part in the last afternoon session on Friday, and from them will be selected the six who are to play for the championship honours in the evening. Two medals, of silver and gold, one presented by the Ashburton Harmonica Band and the other by Mr P. Skinner, of Christchurch, will he the chief awards to be gained in the finals and these will be handed to the winners by the Mayor (Mr W. H. Woods.

With these will go, as first prize, a valuable chromatic mouth organ, and as second prize a grand model mouth organ, both donated by Mr A. M. Ivingsbeer. The third prize is another mouth organ, the gift of Messrs Webley Sons and Gofton, Ltd. Each member of the audience will be given a voting paper on entering the theatre and the decision rests with the patrons. The Harmonica Band will be in attendance in the new uniform.

One thing that lias been brought out as a result of the competition is the talent for music that many boys have, and which is being developed through the mouth organ where, in many cases, the boy might not take so read-

ily to the piano or to some other instrument.

Members of the Harmonica Band have been enthusiastic in coaching the boys, who have been given an insight into time and melody that has further tended to bring out their musical ability.