U.S. MUSIC DEGREE FOR CHRISTCHURCH LECTURER

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28937, 3 July 1959, Page 3

U.S. MUSIC DEGREE FOR CHRISTCHURCH LECTURER

kKr Keith Newson, senior -Ift. few in mu« ft fte Chriftfturch Teachers’ Colleceha. ft. jfttly had conferred the ieerft f Master of Musical IM.w*h£ (honours) at Indiana University •here he has been studying on a Rdbright scholarship since last leptember. ’■ ft June, Mr Newson vu chosen as one of 50 “foreign scholars” ft take part in the Williansburg international Assembly in ginia. Through funds given by Mr John D. Rockefeller, inn. the buildings in Williamsburg have been restored completely to the appearance they had when Williamsburg was the capital of the colony of Virginia. The Williamsburg International Assembly, now in its third year, is a seminar of formal and informal discussions on the reactions of overseas scholars to the ideologies, institutions, and ways of life of the United States. Eight authorities on American history, politics, communications, business, labour, law, education and culture gave formal lectures and eight American, scholars Were chosen to give a representative American point of view. From 38 Countries The overseas members of the assembly came from 38 countries, including “Iron Curtain” countries and trouble spots, giving a fairly complete regional representation of other cultures and political ideologies. Mr Newson was chosen to express the visitors’ thanks to Colonial Williamsburg Incorporated, the United States State Department, the Institute of International Education, and other

2T ors of the assembly. This teal seston was held in the restored House of Burgesses the ol d colonial Parliament. «Si rin AJ <ay ’ Mr Newson was a guest at the annual north regional convention of the National Music Conference at the Conrad Hilton Hotel, Chicago. There were about 2000 music specialists attending and all aspects of music teaching were covered. What impressed Mr Newson most was the “amazingly high standard” of high school orchestras, choirs, and symphonic bands which performed from time to time during the convention. were some of the finest performances I have ever heard from school pupils,” he says. ■ Having completed his studies in America, Mr Newson is now leaving for England and Europe where he will rejoin his wife and son who are at present visiting relatives in Norway. Mr Newson intends to visit teachers’ colleges in England to compare methods of teacher training and to study music in schools as he has done in the United States.