Mobil Song Quest To Be Revived

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32059, 6 August 1969, Page 8

Mobil Song Quest To Be Revived

The Mobil Song Quest is to be revived next year, with prize money totalling more than $l6OO, making it New Zealand’s richest competition for singers.

As previously, the contest will be divided into two sections, one for soloists, and the other for vocal groups. In the solo section, the winner will receive $6OO and the second and third prize-winners $2OO and $lOO respectively. All other finalists will receive $4O. In the vocal groups section, the winner will receive $3OO and the other finalists $6O. The solo section is open to non-professional singers between 17 and 40. For the first time, previous song quest winners will be entitled to enter. Finalists in previous Mobil Song Quests have been mosti successful. Kiri Te Kanawa, winner of the 1965 quest who| has since been studying ini England, recently returned to!

New Zealand to take the leading role in the New Zealand Opera Company's production of “Carmen.” Malvina Major is another quest winner. She also won the 1964 “Melbourne Sun” Aria, and later went to England where, recently, she

won the Kathleen Ferrier 1 Memorial Prize. She was in • New Zealand earlier this year : for concerts and recitals with ■ the N.Z.8.C., and also recor--1 ded a series of television pro--1 grammes. * Anne Rasmussen, who won 1 the last Mobil Song Quest in ’ 1967, will leave for Austria ■ next month to continue her ! studies. Patricia Payne, > placed second in the 1965 Song Quest, won the “Sydney 1 Sun” Aria in 1966 and is now ' studying in England. ‘ Entries for the quest will ' open on September 15. The ' first broadcast over the commercial radio network will be on Sunday, November 30, and ; these will continue for 13 - weeks. The prizewinners will 'lbe selected at a final concert lin Auckland on Thursday, > I February 19.