AMATEUR TALENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 247, 18 October 1929, Page 10

AMATEUR TALENT.

COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL.

MANY GOOD PERFORMANCES.

DANCING "DISAPPOINTING."

Last evening's classes in the Auckland Competitions Society's Festival, which is being held in the Lewis Eady Hall, formed a well-balanced programme. There were several recalls from classes held during the morning and afternoon, and added to these were one'or two of the principal classes, including vocal and ballet work. After the official opening the audience was addressed by the president of the society, Mr. Andrew Mcnzics, and by two of the adjudicators, Mr. Lance Craig, of Hastings (einging) and Mr. J. W. Bailey, of Wanganui (elocution). Two of the most enjoyable classes were the combined ballet (junior) and character song for children under 16, in which four finalists appeared. Miss Lillian O'Leary's ballet took the stage in the former claes, which is being presented by calling one entrant each evening. The winner of the character .song was Rena Geddes, who won a gold medal in the children's classes at last year's festival.

A number of interesting classes were heard at both tho morning and afternoon sessions to-day. Children's classes included a song in character, a pianoforte duet, character dance and skipping dance, and among those for adult performers were the preliminaries in the humorous sketch (ladies and gentlemen), sacred song (ladies), and oratorio solo (tenor). The adjudicators, the number of whom has been increased from three to four since the last festival was held, are: Dancing, Mies Audrey Hughes-Johnson (Wanganui); elocutionary, Mr. J. W, Bailey (Wanganui); instrumental, Madame Grace Griffiths (Wanganui); vocal, Mr. Lance Craig (Hastings). The official accornpaniste is Miss Theo. Halpin. Results were as follow:— SPANISH DANCE, over 16. Open. Eileen Olsen (Grey Lynn), 90 points 1 Kathleen Boyle (Auckland) 2 Joyce Simon (Auckland) 3 The winner was the only competitor who adhered throughout to Spanish steps, said the judge. BASS SOLO. "The Drums of Life" (Lohr-Campbell), Arthur H. Turner (St, Helier'e), 136 points 1 There were only three entrants in this class, which was so disappointing that the judge considered only one of the competitors worthy of a prize. PIANOFORTE SOLO, Children under 12. Patrick Towsey (Grey Lynn), 180 points 1 Wynne Simpeon (One Tree Hill), 178 points 2 Edna Rainey (Dcvonport), 168 pointd 3 Very highly commended,—Joan Phil' pott (Green Lane). Highly Commended. — Joan Bennie (Ellerslie). The three prize-winners, said the judge, played a little better at the evening session than in the preliminary tests. DANCE DUO, Children II and under 14. Doris Emptage and Ruby Jones .... 1 Gladys Cain and Loloma Kay 2 That she had hoped to see something more original, was the judge's comment. All the dances were well known. TEST RECITATION, Girls, 9 and under 12.

Marjorie Treanor (Pukekolie), 84 points 1 Ngairo Teweri (Auckland), 83 2 Audrey Wood (Paeroa), 78 3 Highly commended: Shirley Sayson (Bayfield). There were 35 entries for this class, which was one of the largest in the festival. As usual, said the judge, the children were especially good. TENOR SOLO, "Dolorosa" (Pliillips-Chappell). Thomas S. Moffitt (Westmere) and George Lawson (Hikurangi), 75 points, equal 1 Linton H. Eskrigge (Paeroa), 74 .... 3 A pleasing performance was given by each of the recalled performers, said the judge. In the aggregate, the marks had come so close that it had been impossible to separate the first two competitors. TOE DANCE, 12 to 16. Edna Tullett (Mount Roskill), 75 points 1 Joy Simon (Remuera) and Loloma Kay (Ponsonby), 74, equal 2 Disappointment with both the dancing and the music selected was expressed by tho judge. The majority of the competitors, she said, bent the knees and needed practice in point work.

TEST RECITATION, Ladies. "My Mind To Me a Kingdom Is" (Jonson). Miss Hilda Morse (Auckland), 79 points 1 Miss Phyllis Torpy (Hamilton), 78 .. 2 Miss Edna Thomas (Epsom), 75 3 Very highly commended: Miss Mabel Bryant (Papatoetoe). Highly commended: Miss Gay Corrie (Grey Lynn), Miss Thelma Clarke (Kingsland). The winner gave a very artistic performance, said the judge. A lot might be expected in the future of a number of those who competed.

SONG IN CHARACTER. Children under 10. Own Selection. Rena Geddes (Mount Eden) 1 Desmond Casey (Birkdale) 2 Joy Simon (Reniuera) and Gladys Cain (Point Chevalier), equal *.. 3 Some of the performances, said the judge, were very pleasing. The winner was very natural. The boy placed second sang really well, but the judge was bound by the system of awarding points laid down by ths committee, and lie Avas aware that some members of the audience would criticise the placings. One point that had occurred to him was that the song, "0 .Sole Mio," was too mature for so young a boy.

OPERATIC SOLO, Own Selection. Miss Winifred Hill (Ponsonby), 150 points, "Jewel Song" ("Faust") 1 Miss Cecilia Pringle (Parnell), 149, "Romance" ("Mignon") 2 Mrs. Reffel (Auckland) 3 Highly commended: Mrs. L. Raynes (Ponsonbv) and Miss Norma Stevens (Grey Lynn). "A very good class," remarked the judge. While no operatic stars were revealed, there were some very nice performances. The choice of song had counted in the decision. ■

TO-DAY'S RESULTS. CHARACTER DANCE, 9 and under 12. Recalls: Elva Rae Parr (Auckland), Joyce Clarke (Edendale), Joan Templeton (Ellerslie). SKIPPING DANCE, 13 to 16. Recalls,; Edna Tullett (Mount Roskill), Joy Simon (Remuera). SONG IN CHARACTER, under 12. Own Selection. Recalls: Doreen Atkin (Remuera), "Vespers"; Joyce Howland (Northcote), "Alice Blue Gown"; Patricia Boyle (Heme Bay), "Little Lady, Wide Awake." "A very interesting class," commented the judge, ' One point which was noticeable in some competitors, however, was a double sound on one sylable. This is a pernicious habit, and it should be stamped out. Also, competitors must not force their voices, as one boy did." PIANOFORTE DUET (Under 12.) Own Selection. Recalls: Misses Hazel McChesney and Joan Philpott (One Tree Hill), "March Militaire" (Schubert); Misses Edna Rainey and Lorna Frith (Devonport), "Gazelle Mazurka"; Misses Nancy Herring and Joan Plant (Grey Lynn), "Fan Danco" (Boggetti). MODERN POPULAR SONG (Under 16). "Do You Know My Garden?" (Any key.) Recalls: Rena Geddes (Mount Eden), Desmond Casey (Birkdale), Kathleen Boyle (Heme Bay), N. June Morris ( Epsom). Highly commended ; : Frances Dawson (Auckland), Edna Lorigan (Point Chevalier), Jean Greenwood (Ponsonby). VIOLIN SOLO (16 to 18). "Hungarian Dance" (Brahms-Hubay). Recalls: Miss Moya Cooper-Smith (St Helier's Bay) 86 points, 1.

TO-NIGHT'S PROGRAMME. No fewer than sixteen classes are billed for to-night's programme. Of these, eleven are for children, and those for adults include finals in the oratorio solo (tenor), sacred song for ladies (own selection), pianoforte solo (16 and under 19), and national song for ladies (English, Scottish or Irish; own selection). Three recalls in the humorous recital with musical accompaniment (own selection), will also be heard. The classes for children include an operatic dance, boys' recitation, song in character, violin and pianoforte uolos, character recital, character dance, modern popular song, and skipping dance.