Dominican School Concert.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 59, 29 June 1908, Page 5

Dominican School Concert.

Despite the wretched weather 01 Friday night St. George's Hail was well filled on the occasion of the con cert in aid of the funds of the Domini can school in Milton. A very attrac live programme had been prepared, and the various items were bright anc interesting. A number of influence: had been at work to spoil the children's oarts. Coughs, colds, etc., had pre 'rented regular attendance at rehearsals, tnd Miss O'Grady's efforts were ;herelore very materially handicapped. When entirely new movements have to ae taught to young children and where the selection of them is not able :o be a wide one, it is easily underitood that much patience has to be jxercised, Miss O'Grady, however, n face of many difficulties, had her roung pupils well instructed, and any apses were not due to her tuition, but o other agencies over which there was 10 control. The children did remarkibiy well. The melody "When hrough life," and the calisthenic items • Indian clubs" and the " Moonlight ■evels" were good, particularly the atter. " Sunshine and rain," a dance md a story without words, was well ione by Miss Madge Laffey and M. [Cane- Miss Madge Laffey also ianced a fan dance. The sailor's lornpipe was also good. "The play of he racquets" was the last item by the children, and the time and movements were well done. All the children aking part in the juvenile items are Dupils of the Dominican Nuns at Milton. MissFraser, A.T.C.L., and Miss E. Fraser, both of Dunedin, sang icceptably. In the duet " The light Castanet,', they were recalled, and the terns of both these vocalists added nuch to the value of the musical programme. Miss Scanlan always akes a keen interest in these annual :oncerts, and besides a good deal of iccompaniment work for the vocalists )layed with Miss Reid a pretty pianobrte duet during the first part of the )rogramme ; Misses Pearl M'Elroy and K.etd gave in the second part a smooth 'oing tuneful selection, which gave jvery opportunity to show the musical alent of the players and it was played with confidence. Miss O'Grady Dlayeda pianolorte solo " The rustle )f spring "in a finished manner. The Dieceisone of those dainty, sweet Compositions in the performance of which the player has to give evidence )f lightness of touch and ot sympathy with the theme. This Miss O'Grady iid most successfully. Mr A. Bryce was recalled tor his song "Down in ;he deep," and substituted "In happy noments" as an encore number Mr King was encored for his singing )f"Sally Horner" and followed it with "Merry merry in the north :ountree," in bQfo of which he was leard to advantage. Mr John Walls (Mosgiel) sang " A hundred fathoms Jeep" in good voice. The selection torn the comic opera in character went rery well, Mr J. Walls, as the Rajah of Bong, taking the principle part, with Miss O'Grady the other. There was a «vy of ex-term pupils who gave the :horus. Mr Christie's recitation suffered for want of efficient rehearsal. The sccompsniates were Miss Scanan, Miis O'Grady and Miss King, but Miss Fraser played the accompamnents for her sister's items. Miss Frazerisan Awjate of Trinjty Colege, London, both in vocal and pjanobrte music.