Drop In Speech Standards Noted

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31363, 8 May 1967, Page 7

Drop In Speech Standards Noted

The standard of speech of New Zealanders had gone back over the last 20 years because insufficient work had been done in speech training, the speech and drama judge (Mr G. J. S. Hooper) said after the first day of the annual competitions of the Christchurch Competitions Society on Saturday. The fault was with the public schools, said Mr Hooper, because not enough training had been given. This was slowly changing. The private speech training standard was very high, and this resulted in some good work, he said. Speech training made a voice clear and pleasant to listen to and improved speech. The question was whether a voice met these requirements, said Mr Hooper. A fault with the day’s performances was that some performers were occasionally too dramatic, but the over-all standard was good, he said. “I was very pleased with the standard in the men’s classes,” said the judge of the vocal section (Mr H. Brusey). “It was a good day, and I was pleased with all the singers. Some of the ladies were very good,” he said. Mr Brusey also said that the 16 and under 18 girl competitors had potentially good voices. . Mr Brusey, who is touring chorusmaster with the New Zealand Opera Company, is judging his first Christchurch competitions since 1961. Mr K. R. Newson, who is judging the piano and violin

sections, said that in some piano classes the standard was very good. “Three boys in the 14 and under 16 section were excellent and were very talented pianists. This was unusual,” he said. One piano solo class for 12 and under 14 had 38 entries. Mr Newson gave 15 awards for the class. “This indicates good potential for the future,” he said.

The modelling section was a feature of Saturday’s competitions. This attracted a number of younger girls, especially the five and under nine and the nine to 13 age groups. Mr V. R. Claude, who judged the models, said he was fascinated by the young girls. "I was amazed at their confidence and style. Some were quite professional,” he said. The winner of the 16 and under 18 section. Miss Christine Noble, wore a white fishnet bathing suit first and then wore a blue crystalline crepe knee-length frock with a matching mirror nylon evening coat. Miss Patricia Bell, who won the 18 and over class, had a “Twiggy” haircut and wore a turquoise crepe frock above the knee with silver lurex stockings and gloves to match. Mrs Kathleen Bennett won the housewives’ section, wearing a black cocktail frock and black shoes. Mr Claude said the housewives did credit to themselves to find the time, energy and perseverance to keep in trim.

Saturday’s results were: — ' SPEECH AHD DRAMA ' (Judge: Mr G. 1.. D. Huoper, 1 Lower Hutt) ( Recitation.—lo and under 12: ] Dorena Markotich 1, Sharon Bur- 1 reli 2, Helen McKinley 3. Eight ] and under 10: Rosalie Wilson 1, < Maryrose Wilkinson 2, Rachel Magee 3. , Hidden Speech.—Under 14: , Donna-Marie Davies 1, Donna- . Marie Bartlett 2, Kathleen Fox 3. 14 and under 16: Stephen Ballinger 1 Alannah O’Sullivan J 2, Mary Moran 3. Scholarship.—l 4 and under 16: Alannah O’Sullivan 1, Mary > Moran 2, Michelle O’Sullivan 3. Prepared Psalm Reading.— i Under 12: Shelley Pannell 1, j Catherine Cooper 2, Brent Ashley 3. ] Humorous Recitation.—l2 and under 14: Adrienne Horniblow 1, , Ashley Tucker 2, Christine Sinclair 3. Test. —Girls, 14 and under 16: , Alannah O’Sullivan 1, Josephine O’Sullivan 2, Mary Moran 3. Recitation. —16 and over: Adriyana Markotich 1, Jocelyn Armstrong 2, Catherine Armstrong 1 3. Character Recital.—l 4 and under 16: Mark Travaglia 1, Mary Moran 2, Stephen Ballinger 3. Dominion Test Recitation.—Jill Bartlett 2 (no first or third place awarded). Prepared Speech.—l 6 and under 21: Simon Murdoch 1. VOCAL MUSIC (Judge: Mr H. Brusey, Wellington) Own Selection.—Ladles: Diane Walter 1, Noreen McConnel 2, Helen Shanks 3. Men: John Harker 1 Jan Ten Hove 2, David Lund 3. Adult: Dennis White 1, Rosslyn Riley 2, Gillian Davies 3. Scottish Song.—l 6 and under 18: Kerrie Heaysman 1, Anne Betts 2, Marlene Gargiulo 3. English Song.—Men: John Parker 1, John Harker 2, Denis W’hite 3. Sacred Song.—l 6 and under 18: Anne Betts 1, Isabel Dunwoodie 2, Kerrie Heaysman 3. INSTRUMENTAL Piano (Judge: Mr K. R. Newson, Christchurch) I Solo, Own Selection.—l2 and

under 14: Donna Reiche 1, Rosemary O’Meegan 2, Wendy Clark 3. 14 and under 16: Pauline Tilley 1, Leighton Brown 2, Lois Cochrane 3. 16 and under 18: Diane Workman 1, Brian Shillito 2, Alexander Stewart 3. Adult: David Crooks 1, Helen McKay and Fiona Knight (equal) 2. Solo Sight Reading.—l 6 and under 18: Barbara Caygill 1, Haydn Rawstron 2, Diane Workman 3. Duo.—Open: Paulette WiggS and Elizabeth Holland 1, Paul Dunlop, Dale Simpson and Barbarbara Caygill, Allison Flamank (equal) 2. Solo, Test. —12 and under 14; Kay Wilson 1, Helen Lawrence 2, Paul Goodson 3. 14 and under 16: Richard Mapp 1, Martin Lamb 2, Michael Houstoun 3. Duet.—l 3 and under 15: Mary Caygill and Jenness McLachlan 1, Sandra Neale and Helen Lawrence 2, Rosemary Brown and Graeme Phipps 3. Adult: David Crooks and John McAlpine 1, Paulette Wiggs and Christine Brown 2, Paul Dunlop and Dale Simpson 3. Solo, C. Begg and Co. Scholarship.—Adult: Colin Hendry 1, David Crooks 2. Christchurch Civic Music Council Scholarship.—l 4 and under 16: Michael Houstoun 1, Martin Lamb 2 Richard Mapp 3. MODELLING (Judge: Mr V. R. Claude, Christchurch) Five and Under Nine.—Rusyl Ryman 1, Andrea Armstrong 2, Phillip McConnell 3. Nine and Under 13.—Jane Gil-mour-Wilson 1, Judith Kiesanowski 2, Pamela Cossar and Cheryl McConnel (equal) 3. 13 and Under 16.—Barbara Reid and Jo-Anne Walker (equal) 1, Cheryl Turner 3. 16 and Under 18. —Christine Noble 1, Susan Hobley 2, Rosemond White 3. 18 and Over. —Patricia Bell 1, Robyn McConnel 2, Diane Dyer 3. Housewives.—Kathleen Bennett 1, Constance Van Tulder 2, Audrey Patten and Joyce Arnott (equal) 3.