Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1946. CHORAL SOCIETY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 304, 5 October 1946, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1946. CHORAL SOCIETY

The musical festival which was conducted in Christchurch last week attracted unusually wide interest, and clearly indicated that there has been a marked revival of interest in the city in the short period which has elapsed since the end of the war. The promoters of the event gave .to the music-loving public a wide rangp of presentations, and it is safe to say that the several performances will do a tremendous amount of good. There were packed houses nightly, but the audience went far beyond the theatre, for the broadcasting of the programmes enabled musically-minded people all over the country to enjoy what Christchurch people were able to attend and sample. Many Ashburton people made a'point of listeningin, and all of them would have welcomed the opportunity of actually being present, had such been possible. Those who promoted the festival are to be congratulated on having made provision for choirs from some of the smaller centres to participate, namely Rangiora, Ashburton, Methven and Temuka. They provided the entire programme on one evening, and were accorded a line, reception both by the Christchurch public and in newspaper comment. The pity of it is, so far as> Ashburton is concerned, at all events, that facilities do not exist for the people of this town to enjoy performances by such combinations as the Vocal Study Group and the Methven Choral Society, both of which have done a great deal, to keep the district prominently before the outside public. On odd occasions these two choirs have given items at functions in the town, but the audiences have been restricted on account of the size of the halls available.. Methven'recently pro-, duced “Tom Jones” in their own centre, and might well have been encouraged to reproduce it in Ashburton. The Study 'Group has performed in Christchurch, over the air and also in Timaru, but has not given an entire performance in Ashburton. There is a definite need for some enthusiastic individual or organisation to endeavour to resuscitate the Choral Society so that the wealth ol talent which the town undoubtedly possesses can give to the icitizens the musical treats which at present are being provided for other communities. Along with the resuscitation of the Choral Society could go the formation of an orchestra. The musicians are available ; all that is required is someone to give a lead.