FESTIVAL OF CHOIRS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29227, 10 June 1960, Page 2

FESTIVAL OF CHOIRS

Townswomen’s Guilds

“Music is the best hobby anyone can have,” said Mr Victor Ellena, at the Choral Festival held by the Christchurch Area Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds, last evening. Mr Ellena was guest conductor at the festival and was commenting on the performances given earlier in the evening by choirs from the different guilds.

Referring to the standard of the singing, Mr Ellena said: “It. is marvellous to see people like yourselves making such a wonderful contribution to the city with your singing. It is good to see such an enthusiastic audience here, too, because even if you can’t sing or play a musical instrument, you can hear and appreciate and that in itself is very much worthwhile.” The set piece for the evening which each choir sang in turn, was “Where the Bee Sucks’’ by Arne. The choirs handled it very well, said Mr Ellena and each one sang it slightly differently. For a set piece it would, seem that there was not much scope for interpretation but the Somerfield Townswomen’s Guild Choir had shown how much there was to be found in such a small piece.

Mr Ellena said he would write to each of the choirs individually giving them some criticism and advice which they might find helpful. To the conductors and accompanists he said: “Don’t let it be said that women have to keep in the background and leave the floor to men. Some of the conductors and accompanists have real talent and they should pursue that talent, taking it further and using it to help and give enjoyment to others.”