COMPETITIONS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20334, 5 September 1931, Page 16

COMPETITIONS.

AT LEESTON. Tho Lecston Musical and Elocutionary Competitions were concluded on Thursday evening, when there was a crowdod attendance in the Town Hal). At the end of the programme the judges reviewed the work. Hiss Devereux, who judged the elocutionary classes, commended the general standard, r.nd stated that the enunciation had been remarkably good. The chief defect had ben insufficient change of tone. The competitors would do better by cultivating softer tones by using the rising inflection. She did not recommend going too far with heavy dramatic ■work, as it would spoil the voice in time. Other faults were the holding of the final consonant too long, and the manner of sounding the sibilant, for which it was necessary tc open the teeth well. Mr Claude Davies, the judge of the singing and instrumental classes, said that some of the competitors had net done themselves justice, but this might have been due to nervousness. There had been some good voices in the children's singing, but they should remember to sing softly and sweetly—in the head rather than in the chest. Though there had not been many piano items, the work had been good. The competitors in the class for ladies' singing had done well, and he advised them to keep on working, and to learn to sing for the joy of singing. Some had been very . close, particularly in the sacred solo. The chief fault had been in the sounding of the vowels. To forget words on tho stage ho regarded aB a minor fault 1 . The important points were to sing tastefully, and well within one's _capabilities. The competitions had. been creditable to a town of Leeston's size. .

The following were the final night's «• suits: —

Recitation, under 12 years, "When Burglars* Came to Our House" —Douglas King, 81 points, 1; Joyce Brown, 80 points, 2. Also competed: William Allen, Jim Martin, Pearl King; Recitation, under 18 years, "Laugh and be Merry"—Gladys Blake, 83 joints, 1; Margaret Allen. 80 points, 2. Also competed: Joyce Millar. Character Sketch —Gladys Blake, 76 points, 1.

Humorous Recitation—Douglas King, 88 points, 1; Frances O'Gorman, 80 points, 2; Phyllis Bray, 78 points, 3. Also competed: Maud Millar, Margaret Allen, Eileen Bray, Noeline Bennett.

Song, under 16 years, Boy—John Holley 1. Song, under 18 years, Girl—Betsy Woodard, 80 points, 1; Nellie Beamsley, 79 point's, 2. Also competed: Joyce Legg, Mildred Brooks. Song, Gentlemen —J. Aiken, 79 ,points, -1; R. B. Rolls, 78 points, 2. Also competed: S.»Pocklington. • Song in Character —Noeline Bennett, 88' points, 1; P. Bennett, 79 points, 2. Sacred Solo—Miss C. Allen, 81 points, 1; Miss M. Woodard and Miss B. Townshenjl, j 80 points (equal), 2. Also competed t Mla»' N. Beamsley, Miss M. Brizzle. . <, . V Violin Solo—Arthur Lambie, 88 points, If. Piano Solo, over 16 years—Rosa Bowden, 84 points, 1: Ivor Smith, 80 points, 2. Novelty Item—Sadie and Jim Martin, " 83; points, 1; Leona and Dorothy. Harvey, 81 points, 2. WELLINGTON SOCIETY. (PIISSB ASSOCIATION TELBJaAH.) 1 WELLINGTON, September 4. At tho Wellington Competition* to-day tho results were:— New Zealand Test Recital —Enid H. Muir (Stokes Valley) 1, Walter Hall (Wellington) 2. ■ ' Humorous Character Sketch—J. W. Davidson (Palmerston jNorth) 1, Miss Gwen Carr (Upper Hutt) 2. Junior Test Recital —Marjory Mnlford