COMPETITIONS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 279, 22 August 1934, Page 11

COMPETITIONS

Several Fine Singers

HIGH PRAISE BY JUDGE Elocution and Dancing ANOTHER GOOD PROGRAMME Yesterday’s programme for the Wellington Competitions festival was of interest to many classes of competitors and the public. In the Town Hall during the day folk song sections for adults and classes for youthful pianists and tap-dancers were held. The Concert Chamber was used for recitation, and in the afternoon at the Blue Triangle Hall there was a programme of vocal solos (by New Zealand composers) and dramatic songs in character. At night all the finalists performed iu the Town Hall. Of the songs in character, Mr. E. Bennett North remarked that they had made a very enjoyable class, although small: he would like to hear a class three times the size. He would have liked to have placed two more performers in the final, but they would have to be satisfied with a “highly commended.” “He has a rich and colourful voice and his intonation is excellent—that is a word I rarely use in this connection,” he remarked, referring to Mr. Walter Bentley (Wellington), winner in a men’s vocal solo class. Mr. North repeated his high praise of the previous night of the singing of Mr. Franklin-Browne (Wanganui). The women's negro spiritual class was excellent in many ways, Mr. North said. Both of those recalled sang with great colour and.vision. Some of the songs used in the Irish folk song class were •rather too modern to be easily acceptable, but it had been a good section. “Alleged” Humour. ‘‘Many of the recitations were only allegedly humorous; the majority were not even humorously told,” said the judge. Mr. J. Howlett Ross, at the end of the preliminary section of the humorous recitation in character class for girls under 16. He said there had been only two outstanding performers. “He promises to be a very good elocutionist,” .Mr. J. Howlett Ross said of lan Galloway, of Khnudallah, winner in the accompanied recitals for competitors under 16 years. Miss Monica Williams, of Hnfaitai, gave also a good performance, and he appreciated her sensitive interpretation. _ He was pleased with the general work in the girls recitation Class.- although many made Che poem that had been set too elegaical and mournful. “To read verse like prose i« an art crime, and some didn’t get the rhythmic beauties of the poem ” be added. Piano’s Renaissance. “There were about 27 entrants altogether—under 10 years of age; just imagine what that means, playing a piece that had quite a lot in it,” Mr. T. Vernon Griffiths remarked when giving the results -in a piano solo class. He hoped this apparent revival among parents in their attitude toward active rather than passive participation in music would continue. Sixty-two tap-dancers tinder 16 years competed in the Town Hall during the afternoon. 'Miss Jeane trlowie said it had been an excellent section, and in order to arrive at the winners she had been forced to penalise the competitors for every small <’ rl. • During the gilt session a choir from Wellington Technical College sang “Tripping Hither. Tripping Thither,” and Brahms’ “Lullaby,” for which it received praise from the judge. Pupils under 12 years from Miss Phyllis Oliver’s school of dancing gave the costumed ballet “Mazurka.” On Monday night pupils of Miss Hazel Martin danced a corps de ballet. PLACINGS AND POINTS

VOCAL SOLO, ladles, any voice. Negro spiritual.

Miss Una Thomas (Brooklyn), “Steal Away,” 93pts 1 Miss Kathleen Chapple (Christchurch), “I Stood on de Rlbber,” flOpts 2 Highly commended: Miss Edna Coulson (AVellington).

IRISH FOLK SONG, ladies, any voice. Miss Kathleen Sawyer (Te Iloro), “I Know AVhere I'm Going,” flOpts. ... 1 Mrs. C. K. AVilliams (Gisborne), “Kathleen 'Mavourneen,” 87pts 2

Highly commended: Miss K. Muliany (Napier) and Miss Kathleen Chapple (Christchurch).

NAVY LEAGUE RECITATION, boys or girls' under 16. “Sailing at Dawn” (Newbolt). Alma Dlnnje (Rarer!) 1 Jim McCarthy (Naplbr) 2 Highly eonimended: Noefine Myers (WeL lington) and Mercia Hart (Napier).

RECITAL WITH MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT, boy Or girl under 16. lan Galloway (Khanfiallah), ‘‘Home, Sweet Home,” 85pts 1 Monica Williams (Hataltaj), "My Little Rosa," 82pts 2 Highly commended: Marcia • Hart (Napier) and Moira McClure (Napier). Commended: Violet Potter (Wellington), Eunice Scott (Wellington), Richard Bur-