COMPETITIONS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18680, 1 May 1926, Page 16

COMPETITIONS.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL. THE OPENING DAY. The sixteenth anuual festival of the Christehuri-h Competitions Society was opened yesterday. Large entries have been received for each class, and these have come from both the North and South Islands. During the day tho preliminaries were heard in the Caledonian Hall and in St. Luke's schoolroom. The judges are:—Vocal, Mr H. Barry Coney (Auckland); instrumental, Mr H. Barry Coney; elocution, Mr Culford Bell (Wellington); dancing, Miss Gwen Gibbs (Wellington). As in the past, Mrs J. U. Beck is the official accompanist, Mr H. Sweney was the efficient stage manager, and Mr T. F. Hall, secretary. The official opening took place in the evening, when, in the absence of the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer), the festival was declared open by Mr T. Newburgh, president of the Competitions Society. He said that this was the sixteenth year that the competitions had been held, and they felt that they had done a certain amount of. good. The executive had experienced a keen loss iu the death of Mr K. C. Bishop, the late patron of the Society, and ho would be missed very much. In his place, Mr J. J. Dougall had accepted the position. Mr Dougall said that the New Zealand people were the best educated of the face of the earth, and the competitions were assisting the State Education system. The idea was not to produce a Melba, or an Irving, or a Bernhardt, but there was 110 reason why New Zealand should not produce an artist of the first rank. The speaker introduced the judges to the audience.

Results: PIANO DUET, 13 and under 16. Own selection. Miss Thelma Cusack (Burwood) and Master Noel Newson (St. Albans), "Norwegian Bridal," 157 points .. 1 Miss Dorothy Williams and Miss Muriel Williams (Spreydon), "Ehapßodie Hongroise" (Liszt), 151 points .. 2 Miss Mavis Roi and Miss. Jessie Walker (Christchurcli), "Figaro," 146 points 3 Also competed—Miss Joan Cusack and Miss Edna Richards, Miss Iris Harper and Miss Marjorio Nelligan, Miss Morva Thomas and Miss Dorothy Arthur, Miss Marjorie Alexander and Miss Lesley James, Miss Jean Hore and Miss Manu Lockwood,' Miss Mercy Cooper and Miss Lynda Loy, Mi&s Freda Anderton and Miss Olive Beck, Miss Marjorie Layburn and Miss Alice Chapman, Miss Dulcie Pye and Miss Winiired Barrett. VOCAL SOLO, Contralto. Own selection. Miss Gertie Langridge (Spreydon), "It is the Sunset Hour," 161 points .. 1 Miss Elsie Muxlow (Dampier's Bay), "Hark, What I Tell to Tliee," 159 points .. .. .. ..3 Misa Mavis Wright ■ (Sydenham), "O, Divine Redeemer," 155 points .. 3 Also competed—Miss Nina Penberthy (Opawa), Miss Elizabeth Vass (Christchurch), Miss Myrtle Hopkins (New Brighton), Miss Janet Denholm (Oamaru), Miss Eileen Irwin (St. Albans), Miss Ellice Reay (Marshland), Miss Rhoda. Down (Spreydon). RECITATION, Ladies. "The Downs." (R, Bridges.) Miss Mavis Ritchie (Christchurch), 75 points .. .. •• .. 1 Miss Enid English (Woolston), 71 points 2 Miss Mollio Gallagher (Dunedin), 70 points 3 ' Also competed—Miss Gladys O'Connell (Sydenham), Miss Hazel Shier (Addington), Miss Myra Edwards (Christchurch), Miss Phyllis Bell (Christchurch), Miss Veronica Bagrie (St. Albans, Miss Ruby Boot (Christchurch). READING AT SIGHT, Lady or Gentleman. Mr A. A. Johnson (St. Albans), 78 points 1 Miss M. Gallagher (Dunedin), 72 points 2 Miss Gladys (Sydenham), 70 points .. .. •• •• 3 Also competed—Miss Jean Murchie (St. Albans) and J. F. Cannell. RECITATION, Girls 14 and under 16. "The Three Hills." Miss Leila Roberts (Soargill), 83 points 1 Miss- Melva Cater (St. Albans), 77 points 2 Miss Roberta Williams (Dunedin), 76 points .. .. .. ..3 Also oompeted—Miss Ivy Fowler (Christchuroh), Miss Alice Chapman (Sydenham), Miss Kathleen Scullion (Linwood), Miss Alice Poison (Christchurch), Miss Molly Wright (Spreydon), Mibb Myra Boot (Christchurch), Miss Kathleen Chappie (Christchurch), Misß Kathleen Instone (New Brighton), Miss Eileen Wray (Papanui), Miss Stella Chapman (Gisborne). PIANO SOLO, 18 and under_ 20. "From the Carnival" (Greig). Miss Nana Audibert (Christchurch), 166 points .. • • . . 1 Miss Edna Moore (St. Albans), 165 points .. •• . .. 3 DOMINION RECITATION, Gentlemen, and Own Selection. Mr A. A. Johnson (St. Albans), "Fra Giacomo," 73 points .. .. 1 Mr J. R. Lester (St. Albans), "Julius Caesar," 71 points .. ..2 Mr J. K. Cannell (Christchurch), "The Wage Slave," 70 points .." .. 3 Also competed—Mr W. H. Moss (Christchurch). VOCAL SOLO, Baritone or Bass. Own Selection. Mr Geo. Cordner (Christchurch), "Song of the North Wind," 186 points .. 1 Mr Theo. Turner (St. Albans), 'JDrums," 178 points .. ..' 2 Mr Cyril Blumsky (Christchurch), "Song of the North Wind," 160 point's .. 8 Also Competed—Mr Wm. C. Mann (Christchurch), "Thine Only"; Mr G. Penberthy (Opawa), "Kashmiri Song"; Mr Laurence Snook (Woolston), "Invictus"; Mr Walter Rogers (Spreydon), "Friend o' Mine"; Mr Leslie Stewart (Linwood), "The Blind Ploughman"; Mr Bertram Eeaton (Christchurch), "Muleteer of Malaga"; Mr Keith Halliday (Riccarton), "Invictus"; Mr Vernon Reid (Christchurch), "Hybrais the Cretan"; Mr I\ G. Jones (Halswell), "Dolores"; Mr H. E. Barnsley (Christchurch), "Drake Goes West." QUARTETTE, Male Voices. Open Class. Messrs K. G. Archer, F. S. Jackson, E. Pitman, W. H. O'Dell (Christchurch), "Twilight Shades Descending," 138 points .. .. .. 1 Also Competed—Richmond Harmonic Party.