ST. MARGARETE'S CONCERT

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28346, 3 August 1957, Page 2

ST. MARGARETE'S CONCERT

Folk Songs And Dances

The pupils of St. Margaret’s Collese gave their annual concert to parents and friends in the Civic Theatre last evening. The programme for this year consisted mainly of folk songs and 'oik dances. The music was arranged and directed by Myra Thomson, and the dances were arranged by Mollie Cooper. Practically the whole world, with the exception of Russia and the Far East, was ranged for material, and many quite delightful songs and dances were found. This is excellent music for the girls to study and gives them a musical world tour, with insight of other people’s ways of life and thought. Furthermore, it made an attractive programme. Various choirs took part—form choirs, boarders’ choirs, senior, junior, and intermediate choirs, and even a staff choir for good measure—and a glimpse of the scope of the choral activities o' the school was shown. It also showed how much work Mrs Thomspn has to do, and gave a strong impression of a healthy musical life in the school.

Tonally there has been a marked improvement in standard since last year’s concert. There is more ring in the voices. Enunciation was always clear, and the phras* ing was rhythmic and shapely. Intonation in some of the class singing was faulty sometimes, but was good in the work of the special choirs. The dancing was efficient, colourful, and enjoyable. Here again there was wide variety and a good attempt had been made to capture the spirit of different styles. A most pleasing feature of the concert was the musical way in which so many of the girls played accompaniments, both for the singing and the dancing. Although in this concert there were no instrumental solos, it was clear that this part of the work of the school is in a healthy state. Margaret Stokes and Annette Scholefield, who were the winners of the senior solo and accompaniment contest, and Marion Ford and Sandra Cadwallader, the junior deserve congratulations for the good standard of their work. —C.F.B.