Big Audiences On Second Day Of Competitions

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30130, 14 May 1963, Page 14

Big Audiences On Second Day Of Competitions

More than 1100 persons yesterday morning and afternoon formed responsive audiences for competitors in the 38 classes judged on the second day of the Christchurch Competitions Society’s festival. Last evening many hundreds more attended the Lutheran Hall, Begg’s Concert Hall, and the Girl Guides’ Hall, where events continued til) well past 10 p.m., and about 600 persons were at the Civic Theatre for the variety concert.

Dancing, held in the Civic Theatre in the morning and afternoon, drew the largest attendances. About 700 persons paid admission for the various classical ballet, tap, song and dance, and character dancing events contested during the day by competitors up to 14 years. Piano events, which began yesterday, proved also a strong attraction. The quality of the performances was enthusiastically praised by the judge of these classes, Mr J. Giesen (Dunedin). He was particularly pleased with the duet and duo classes, which are not included in similar festivals in other parts of the country.

“Extremely fine playing marked the duet section,'’ he said.

Speaking to competitors after the event Mr Giesen said that as there was an abundance of music specially written for duet playing he did not think it worth while to present pieces reduced from orchestral scores. Players had been penalised because of this even though their playing technically was admirable, he said.

Although the judge of the vocal musici classes (Mrs L. G. Gibson, of Wellington) was impressed by the quality of many of the voices and the artistry of the singers, she found a lack of musicianship It was not the fault of the teachers, she said Many singers did nof play an instrument. and singers were notoriously bad musicians Particularly in the soprano test she found many singers taking liberties with compositions, frequently with a total disregard for rhythmic structure.

“Rhythm is the life-blood of music, and some rirbato is necessary for successful interpretation." said Mrs Gibson Most of the singers were t >o pedestrian, she said.

Some outstanding performances were given by junior contestants. Mrs Gibson said “Some of the seniors could well be guided by them.” Derry Barnard, winner, of the 12 to 14 “own selection” class, Kerrie Heaysman. winner of the 12 to 14 girls’ test contest and runner-up in the open class, and Faye Eagleston, winner in the eight and

under 10 ‘‘own selection” contest, were of a surprisingly high standard, said Mrs Gibson.

Always a very popular section, the national dancing events will begin today at 9 a.m., in the Caledonian Hall. They will be judged by Mrs J. McKay (Oamaru). Yesterday’s results, with the home towns of competitors from outside Christchurch in parenthesis, were:— LUTHERAN HALL Speech and Drama 1 Sight Reading.—l2 and under 14: Kathryn McCaul 1. Adriyana Markotich 2, Craig Thompson 3

Test.—Under eight: Brent Lewis 1, Ronene Burgess 2, Dorrena Markotich and Bernadette Moran 3. Eight and under 10: John Ford 1. Brendan Brown 2. Blake Kingston 3. Scholarship.—lo and under 12: Allannah O'Sullivan 1.

Humorous Recitation.—Eight and under 10: Paul Bateman 1, Kim Hooker 2. Adrienne Horniblow 3. 14 and under 16: Patricia O'Sullivan 1, Merelyn Bull 2, Warren Helm 3. Recitation.—lo and under 12: Eunice Brunt 1. Sharon Heaney 2, Lindsay McKerrow 3 16 and over: Lindsay North (Ashburton) 2.

Character Recital—l2 and under 14: Adriyana Markotich 2. Anne-Maree Bateman 3

. BEGG’S CONCERT HALL Vocal Music Mounsey Memorial Scholarship.—Under 14: Christine Ross 1. ’ /

Sacred Song —Under 12: Gail McFadgen 1. Rosina Browning 2, Lindsay McKerrow 3 16 and under 18: Miss S. Black 1, Miss B. Anderson (Invercargill) 2 Test.—l2 and under 14: Kerrie Heaysman 1. Luarna Penwell 2. Soprano: Miss P. Low iGreymouth) 1. Miss M. Kinnaird 2. Contralto: Miss D McLean (Dunedin) 1.

Own Selection.—Eight and under 10: Faye Eagleston 1. Sandra Marsden 2 Kim Hooker 3. 12 and under 14: DerryBarnard 1. Kerry Heaysman 2. Kay Anderson 3. Carol —l6 and under 21: Miss H. Reed 1. Miss S. Black 2Lieder.—Men: W Williams 1. C Whitta 2. R. Macann 3 Women: Miss P. Low (Greymouth) 1. Miss G. Miller 2. Miss R Harman (Dunedin) 3

Scottish Song. Adult: A Bachop (Dunedin) 1, Miss R Harman (Dunedin) 2. Choir.—Santa Rosa Ladies' Club 1.

GIRL GUIDES’ HALL Music

Piano-accordion Solo.—Own selection: Trevor Moore 1, Susan

Lewis 2, Charles Dalrymple 3. Piano Solo. Sight Reading.— Adult: Kay Brownscombe 1, Margot Daly 2. Richard Warnock 3. 16 and under 18: Karen Moyle 1, Jennifer Shields 2. Chief Piano Solo (Chas Begg and Company, Ltd., scholarship).—Adult: Shona Smith 1. Own Selection.—Adult: Margot Daly 1, Dianne Rogers 2. Beverley Kench 3. Piano Duet.—Adult: Karen Moyle and Richard Warnock 1. Shona Smith and Wanaka Farrelly 2. Piano Duo. Open: Kay Brownscombe and Margot Daly 1. Gienvs Drummond and Caroline Duetz 2. 16 and under 21: Lorraine Capill and Nan Cross 1, Paul Dunlop and Morris Cashmere 2, Carol Kendrew and Dale Simpson 3. CIVIC THEAHTtE Dancing Skipping Dance.—Under 12: Athol Farmer (Washdyke) 1. Dianne Baxter 2. Jennifer Collins 3.

Tap Dance.—Under 12: Geoffrey Hughes 1. Kim Whitta (Wellington) 2 10- and under 12: Lynette Cain 1. Alan 800 l 2. Marilyn Edwards 3. 12 and under 14: Joy Cutting 1. Caroline Neaves 2.

Classical Ballet.—l2 and under 14: Lynda Emerson 1. Suzanne Day 2. Diana Coley (Lower Hutt) 3.

Song and Tap Dance.—l2 and under 14: Alexander Stewart 1. Suzanne Day 2. Luarna Penwell 3. 16 and over: Beverley Cornelius 1. Maureen Adair 2. Julanne Wallace 3.

Song and Dance Duo.—Under 12: Nicole Duffy and Geoffrey Hughes 1 Tap Duo.—l2 and over: Maureen and Patricia Adair 1. Adrienne and Beverley Cornelius 2. Suzanne Day and Warren Matthews 3. Character Dance.—l2 and under 14: Diana Coley (Lower Hutt) 1. Linda Emerson 2. Faye Black 3. 10 Minutes' Entertainment Zodiacs 1.