COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27039, 14 May 1953, Page 10

COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL

INNOVATIONS MADE THIS YEAR

"Public support for the 1953 Festival of Talent has been encouraging,” said Mr K. W. Staples, president of the Christchurch Competitions Society, yesterday. “In recent years, financing the annual festival has been difficult, but I am hopeful that the efforts of the executive will be successful, and we will find ourselves on a sound financial basis once again.” Suggesting reasons for the lack of aupgort experienced in recent years, Mr taples said that in the early years of the society’s existence, there had not been the great variety and quantity of entertainment available. Consequenlty, people had attended the competitions festival, and had found it good entertainment. In recent years, many of the younger generation had never attended a competitions festival, and could not imagine that it could be entertaining. As a result of a more intensive advertising campaign, there had been an increase in attendances, and people were realising that at the finalists' concert*, presented each evening at the Repertory Theatre, they could enjoy talented performances of a. variety of Items. Mr Staples said. Staging, lighting, and general presentation had been revised. Classes with special entertainment value had been reserved, for the evening programmes, and several new features had been introduced. Quiz contests had been introduced at the festival, and each evening two teams of secondary or primary school pupil# wcqld compete, said Mr Staples. Another innovation was the featuring o£ championship and prize-winners' concerts on two Saturdays this year. Previously it had been the practice to hold these demonstration concerts on the last two or three consecutive evenings of the festival, but it was felt that to hold them on th« Saturdays, with matinees on both days, would be an improvement. These concerts would be held in the Civic Theatre, and the other concerts would be in th* Repertory Theatre:

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS

The Christchurch Competitions Society'* annual festtval was continued yesterday. The following were the results, competitors coming from Christchurch unless otherwise stated;— National Dance, under 10.—Rhondd* Webb. 78 points. 1; Jillian Gallagher, 76, 2; Carol Turner, 75, 3. Skipping Dance. 10 to 13 year*.—Jgcqule McDougall (Timaru), 82, 1; Julie Mcvihnie. 79, 2; Jean Ivey (Auckland). 76, 3Operatic Test Dance. Open.—Miss'Judith Dench. 167. 1; Miss Jill Fagan. 163. 2; Ml** Fay Prisk, 162, 3. Piano Duet, under 12.—Helen Mounaey and Alison Scarth, 79, 1; Michael Baroham and Helen Burrow. 77. 2. Piano Solo, 14 to 16 years.—Christopher Gray, 88. 1; Janice McCahon and Patricia Adams (Waimate), equal. 2. Recitation, 10 to 12 years.—Lynette King. 79, 1; Lynda Dean, 81, 2 Song for Girls. 14 to 16 year*.—Jennifer Hayhind (Hawera), 86. 1; Judy Lamb, 85. 2; Pauline Colthart, 84, 3. Radio Vocal, Men.—G. Wiberg 1, P. Law 2, B. Hogue 3. Vocal Scholarship, 14 to 16 years.— Pauline Colthart, 172, 1. Irish Jig, 12 and under 14 years.—Barbara Dick, 78, 1; Jill Fagan, 76, 2; Jillian McKendry. 75. 3 Character Recital, 8 to 10, years —Jacqueline Clegg, 85. 1; Anne Allan and Anne Bradshaw, 82 (equal). 2. Character Recital, Boy or Girl, 10 and under 12 years.—Gary Williams, 79, 1; Anne Aitchison, 77, 2. Barefoot Dance, 10 and under 13 years.— Helen O’Sullivan. 80. 1; Julie McVlnni* and Jacquie McDougall (Timaru), 78 (equal), 2. Tap Dance, eight and under 10 years.— Marie Skelton, 79. 1; Peter Tootell, 76. 2; Wendy Cannon and John Brundall. 78 (equal), 3. Operatic Dance, 13 and under 16.—Jill Fagan 1, Judith Dench 2, Gleny* Scandrett (Dunedin) 3. Highland Fling. 14 and under 16 years.— Michael Wall, 84, 1; Maree Hunter. 83. 3. Irish Jig. 14 and under 16 year*.— Michael Wall, 86, 1; Pauline Entwhistle. 82, 2; Maree Hunter, 31. 3. Highland Fling, eight and under 1# years.—Rhondda Webb, 66, 1; Helen Dark, 64, 2: Wendy Cannon, 63, 3. Highland Fling, 12 and under 14 years.— Shirley Charteris (Timaru), 62, 1; Shirley Paget (Kaiapoi). 61, 2; Helen Prouting and Paula Ford, 60 (equal). 3. Sailor’s Hornpipe. 12 and under 14 years.—Jillian McKendry. 76, 1: Barbara Dick, 74. 2; Jill Fagan. 72, 3. Soprano Solo Test.—Miss B. Hellawell (Auckland). 87, 1; Miss N. OCarroil, 86. 2; Miss M. Smith (Kaiapoi), 85, 3. Mezzo Solo Test.—Miss Betty Brosnan, 90, l; Mrs J. Robinson (Boon Hay), 87, f 2: Mrs N. Hamilton and Miss E. Hudson. 86 (equal), 3. Contralto Solo Test—Mrs Nola Saunders, 90. 1; Miss M. Donaldson (Dunedin), 86, 2; Miss G. Smith (Templeton), 55, 3.