Schools’ Music Festival Ends

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31486, 28 September 1967, Page 16

Schools’ Music Festival Ends

The Cobham Intermediate, Fendalton, Aorangi, Burnside Contributing, and Wairakei Schools joined with the Burnside High School in the second and final programme of the festival of the north-west Christchurch schools in the Burnside High School hall last evening. Seven items excellently chosen for their musical interest, for contrast, and for technical suitability were sung by the massed choirs with crisp attack, attractive tone, and effective use of expression. The words had been memorised and were sung clearly by the children, whose attention to the direction of Miss H. Rathgen, and Messrs V. Ellena and L. W. Polson was exemplary. More than 300 children were packed on to the stage. The Cobham Intermediate

Choir, conducted by Miss H. A. Rathgen, sang with confidence, good tone, and a fetch-

ing vitality. The Fendalton Instrumental Group, conducted by Mr J. M. Patrick, played with good grip on what it was doing. The Aorangi Choir, conducted by Mr L. W. Polson, sang clearly and with brightness, and the recorder group, conducted by Miss L M. Hill made very pleasant sounds.

The Burnside Contributing School Choir, directed by Mr A. W. Ellis, sang two songs by Schubert wjth commendable espiirit, and the Cobham Intermediate Senior Orchestra and Senior Choir, conducted by Mr D. O’Flaherty, gave good account of their teaching. It was very pleasant work from both groups. The Burnside High School Choir and Orchestra again performed under Mr Ellena’s direction as they did at the first concert.

Susan Glasgow, Beverley Dodge, Mr D. O’Flaherty, Mrs V. Ellmers, Mrs R. M. Hart, and Miss H. Rathgen all did helpful and efficient work as accompanists.