SINGER AS JUDGE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 186, 4 May 1933, Page 11

SINGER AS JUDGE

Visit to Technical College Following his published remarks regarding tiie standard of music in some of the South Island schools, Mr. John Brownlee, the well-known baritone, accented an invitation from Mr. ludhiig. principal of the Wellington Technical College yesterday, to judge the choral work of’the girls’ and boys’ choirs there. After hearing the choirs sing several numbers, including a Maori song and a negro spiritual, Mr. Brownlee gave an address to the students, iu the course ot which he congratulated the teachers and pupils on what was being done in fostering a real love of music at the college. In encouraging the choirs to “hitch their wagon to a star.” Mr. Brownlee urged both the boys and the girls, to aim high in th’is connection, and he instanced the Timaru High School as the model for them, and mentioned that lie had heard such numbers as “Tiie Pilgrim’s Chorus’ and “The Toreador Song” excellently sung bv the boys there. lii urging the pupils to strive to build up a great musical reputation for the Technical College, Mr. Brownlee promised them that, when lie again, visited the Dominion in a few years’ time, he would sing the solos with them of any grand opera choruses they had mastered. Mr. Brownlee sang several solos by wav of illustrating his remarks, and staff and students showed their appreciation by loudly cheering him. The principal later addressed the assemblage. and referred to Mr. Brownlee’s visit ns a red-letter day in the history of the college.