CLEVER PIANISTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 284, 28 August 1935, Page 10

CLEVER PIANISTS

Players Judged at Competitions

YESTERDAY’S AWARDS Men’s Operatic Solo Class Yesterday was an even busier day at the Wellington Coinpetitions than Monday, 20 classes being judged completely. ’They included the amateur piano solo (own selection), the first instrumental class to come before Mr. W, E. Fowler, who described tiie work of the winner, Miss Vera Yager, Christchurch, as brilliant. Another important class was the men’s operatic solo, won by Mr. Victor Woodward, Mr. Ray Trewern, an entrant in “The Dominion” operatic contest, being second. The children’s choruses heard during the day also were among items whicli attracted special interest. One of the elocutionary classes attracting widest interest judged thus far was the ladies’ recitation, “Apple Blossoms,” won by Miss Grace Nixon, Christchurch. An increase in the attendances of the public was noticeable yesterday Interesting Elocution.

During the concert at the Town Hall last night the audience was addressed by Mr. John Hopkins, tho judge of elocution. In the course of a brief and witty speech he remarked on the interesting classes that had come before his notice at the Blue Triangle Hall, especially the dialogue for boys and girls under 16, in which it had been apparent that a lot of trouble had been taken with competitors’ costumes and make-up. It >was pleasing to see so many boys entering for these classes, which were good for them, but he regretted that more men had not entered iti the sections provided for them. He remarked on the interest and instructiveness of the evening concerts this year. The following competitors sang last night in the grand opera contest:— Miss Elizabeth K. Quirke, Karori, “Have I Lost Thee," from Gluck’s “Orpheus”; Miss Grace Nixon, Christchurch. “Romanza”; Mr. Edward West, Christchurch, “Your Tiny Hand is Frozen,” from “La Boheme”; Miss Molly Beveridge, Wellington, “The Flower Song.” from “Faust.”

Aspirants for the honour of appearing at the Ballarat grand opera competition who will be heard to-night are: Miss Valerie Ashenden, Lyall Bay, who will sing “One Fine Day,” from “Madame Butterfly”; Miss Mollie Cummings. Wellington. "Caro Nome.” from “Rigoletto”; Miss Lynda M. Giddings, Karori, “Pregthera di Tosca,” and Mr. Colin FranklynBrowne, Wanganui, “Walther’s Prize Song” from "Meistersingers.” To-day’s Programme. An interesting event to-day, although it is one not open to the general public, is (he judging of the preliminaries of the 2YA vocal solos at the studio of tiie broadcasting station. The contestants will sing into a microphone and the judge will hear them from a loudspeaker in another room. Commencing at 9 a.m. and continuing throughout the day, dancing will be judged at tiie Town Hall, piano solos and duets at the-Concert Chamber in the morning and boys’ and girls’ songs in the afternoon, and elocution at the Blue Triangle Hall and at the Wesley Hall. Yesterday's Awards. Awards in classes judged yesterday are as follow:— PIANO SOLO, amateurs over 16. Own selection. (19 entries). Miss Vera Yager, Christchurch, 91 pts. 1 Miss Dorothy La Roche, Lower Hutt, 90 pts 2 Very highly commended: Mr. Keith A. I’icton, Hataitai.

Highly commended : Miss Audrey Whitelaw. Wellington. “The pieces were very well chosen by the competitors.” said the judge, Mr. W. E. Fowler. "There were great varieties of style and character, ranging from Bach to the most modern composers. 'There was not one bad choice. Had it been an examination instead of a competition with 75 per cent, for a pass, every candidate would have been successful. The winner, who.played ‘Toccata’ by Saint-Saens, gave a most brilliant performance, and 'I felt that she had really given us the composer’s intentions. All young players should ask themselves the question, ‘What did the composer intend?’ The winner of the second prize played Bach’s ‘Chromatic Fantasia.’ That was an artistic and dignified rendering.”

SOPRANO OR MEZZO SOPRANO SOLO (restricted). Own selection. (20 entries). Miss Doreen Benuell, Wellington .... 1 Mrs. Alma Cowie, Wellington 2 Very highly commended: Miss Sybil Phillipps, Auckland. Highly commended: Miss Adelaide Prouse, Upper Hutt; Miss Betty McLellan, Wellington; Miss Marjorie Clifford, Northland.

Commended: Mrs. Nora Mathie, Wellington; Mrs. W. M. Webster, Heretaunga; Miss Joyce Jelicoe, Khan'dallah; Miss Doris Corser, Petone. OPERATIC SOLO, Gentlemen (any voice). Not necessarily grand opera. Own selection. (15 entries). Mr. Victor Woodward, Wellington, 90 pts 1 Mr. Raj’ Trewern, Wellington, 89 pts. 2 Very highly commended: Mr. C. Frank'lyn-Browne, Wanganui; Mr. Ronald Cowie, Wellington, Highly commended: Mr. Edward West, Christchurch ; Mr. Norman Grenfell, Wellington ; Mr. Leonard J. Hopkins, Wellington. Commended: Mr. Alan Pike, Wanganui; Mr. L. Bent, Lyall Bay. The judge, Mr. T. Vernon Griffiths, cominentcd that this was a very satisfactory class, particularly because most of the candidates were obviously serious students. not only <>£ the technique o£ vocalism but also of interpretation. The work of the winners and of those very highly commended was exceptionally pleasing, and in some of the other cases it was only necessary for continued study to be undertaken for similar results to be obtained. On the whole the candidates had chosen selections wisely.

CHILDREN’S CHORUS, under 14,15-25 voices, Unison songs. Own selection. (Four entries). Napier Children’s Chorus, Napier,

SS pts 1 Johnsonville School, $7 pts 2 Highly commended: Technical College, Wellington: Northhind Public School.

Mr. Griffiths asked to be screened from tlie stage during the judging of this claws and the school chorus. Commenting on this class afterward, he said that tlie standard of production, choice of songs, sense of rhythm, and interpretation represented a tremendous raising of the standard of music in t he schools concerned. He remarked on the excellent work school teachers were doing in that respect.

CHILDREN’S CHORUS, State primary schools, under 16 years, 15-30 voices. Part song and unison song, own selection. (Nine entries.) Lyall Bay A, 91 pts 1 Wellington South. 88 pts 2 Very highly commended: Northland. Highly commended: Napier Intermediate School. Island Bay A. Mr. Griffiths remarked after he had judged this class that it was a matter

■for congratulation that there had been an increase in the entries for the section. The two part songs were generally very well balanced and the teachers had, in the main, produced really artistic results. A surprisingly good feature was the quality of the diction, and another point on which those working in the interests of music in schools might congratulate themselves was the greatly improved standard in the choice of music performed. POETIC OR CLASSIC BAREFOOT DANCE, 12-14 years. (22 entries.) Ngaire Keys, Wellington, 82 pts .... 1 Valerie Parker, Kelburn. 81 pts. . . 2 Very highly commended: Heather Wright. Christchurch. Highly commended: Maisie Hoskin. Petone; Joan Clements, Roseneath. The opinion of Miss Stone, the judge, was that the section was really delightful, the winner doing some really beautiful work. CLOG DANCE, 12-14 years (16 entriesi. Dell Sandlant, Wellington, 80 pts. . 1 Ngaire Keys. Wellington. 79 pts. ... 2 Very highly commended: Dolores Harris. Wellington; Percy Lee, Masterton. Commended: Rangi Jessup, Wellington : Joyce Knighton, Karori. “The general standard was quite good,” commented the judge, Miss Irene Stone. TAP DANCE, 14-16 years. (18 entries, i Jack Glennie, Lower Hutt. 93 pts. .. 1 Joyce Oliver. Wellington, 82 pts. .... 2 Very highly commended : Joan Mabin, Wellington; Shona Bennetts, Wellington. Highly commended : Peggy Smyth, Wellington ; Jean O’Connor, Wellington. “This was a very good class, and the winner, Jack Glennie, is an exceptionally brilliant dancer,” said Miss Stone. “It is most refreshing to see dancing of such a high standard.” HIGHLAND FLING, under 12 years. (26 entries.) Lenore Upton, Christchurch ........ 1 Edna Whitelaw, Miramar 2 Very highly commended: Joyce Hill. Napier. Highly commended : Betty Roach, Wellington ; Judy Cooper, Wellington. OPERATIC DANCE. 9-12 years. Waltz time. (35 entries.) Constance Chalk, Wellington. 74 pts. 1 Melva Doney, Wellington, 72 pts. .. 2 Very highly commended: Kathleen Caldwell, Petone. Highly commended: Audrey Allardice. Brooklyn. "This section was quite good,” said Miss Stone. “The winners were really a delight to watch, particularly as they were so young, and .the technique displayed was exceptionally good.”

IRISH REEL, under 16 years. Miss Hazel Martin’s No. 2 team, 86 pts 1 Mr. Claude Sander’s No. 4 team, 83 pts 2 Very highly commended: Mr. Claude Sander’s No. 3 team. Highly commended: Miss Hazel Martin’s No. 1 team. “I found this class of a high standard and a pleasure to watch,” said Mrs. F. M. Cameron, the judge of national dancing. “The winners gave an excellent performance.” SWORD DANCE. 12-16 years (Nine entries.) Roie Docherty, Mercer, 87 pts 1 Jean MacLachlan, Christchurch, 84 pts. 2 “ Very highly commended: Donald Youngs Newtown. Highly commended. Gracie MeKay, Wellington. “All the competitors in this class showed careful tuition,” said Mrs. Cameron, "and although some are not winners to-day, they should do well shortly " JUNIOR TEST RECITAL, boys 12-14 years. Own selection. (Four entries. ) Lawrence Constable, Lyall Bay, 72 pts 1 Donald Young, Newtown, 70 pts 2 RECITATION, ladies, “Apple Blossom.” (31 entries.) Miss Grace Nixon, Christchurch, 74 points 1 Miss Valerie Ashenden, Lyall Bay, 73 pts 2 Highly commended: Miss Vivian Violich, . Wellington ; Miss Marjorie Hill, Brooklyn; Miss Dorothy Spinks. Wellington. RECITATION, girls 12-14 years, A Dutch Picture.” (36 entries.) Elaine 11. Weeber, Wellington, 72 pts. 1 Beverley Peek, Berhampore, 71 pts. 2 Highly commended: Loris McEwen. Wellington. RECITATION, boys under 9, "The Watchmaker’s Shop.” (14 entries.) Colin Ashbridge,. Wellington. 70 pts. 1 Peter Carkeek, Eastbourne, G 8 pts. .. 2 Very highly commended: David Hempieman, Miramar; lan Murdoch, Wellington; Antony Barrows, Island Bay. Surprise at the talent produced in this class was expressed by Mrs. Craig Mackenzie, the judge. RECITATION IN CHARACTER

(humorous), girls 9-12. Own selection. (24 entries.) Beryl McMillan, Wellington, 63 pts. . 1 Ngaire Holmes, 'Wellington, 62 pts. 2 Highly commended: Noelene Perrin, Palmerston North; Bettine Kerr, 'Wellington. Commended: Cavell Trask. Lower Hutt; Dorothy Jones. Ngaio. “There are so few humorous character sketches written that are not in uialect and low comedy that with children so young as those m this class, under 12 years, the class would be better dropped. A child has to do, say, a cockney sketch, at an age when the teacher's problem is to inculcate good speech.” Mrs. Mackenzie said that she had had to pick out the children with talent for mimicry and acting rather than sense of rhythm and good speech. HUMOROUS CHARACTER SKETCH, lady or gentleman, open class. Own selection. (17 entries.) Miss Violet Potter. Wellington, 77 pts. 1 Miss Uola Hyde, Brooklyn, 75 pts. .. 2 Highly commended: Miss Freda Whittaker, Palmerston North ; Miss Vivian Violich, Wellington. RECITATION, girls under 9 years. Own selection. Restricted. (36 entries.) Beverley, Burke. Wellington 1 Pat McGowan, Ngaio 2 Very highly commended: Hazel Guise, Lower Hutt; Loma L. Hills, Ngaio; Ngaere "Wilson, "Wellington; Margaret A. Thomson, Masterton. Highly commended: Shirley Maybury, Wellington. Mrs. Mackenzie said the section was of a very high standard, and the winner had obtained her place easily, having a beautiful voice and very good speech. She had, however, had the greatest difficulty in separating second place winner apd those very highly commended. RECITATION, girls 9-12 years, "My Kingdom.” (16 entries.) Hazel Black. Eastbourne, 6S pts 1 Peggy McKinnon. Newtown, and Ngaire Greenslade, Upper Hutt, 67 pts I 2 Highly commended : Beatrice M. Dellow, Island Bay; Betty Spinley, Wellington; Kathleen Palmer, 'Wellington; Shirley Graham, Palmerston North, Commended: MHelva Doney, Wellington ; Valerie Fitzgerald, Wellington; Kathleen Jameson, Wellington; Gwen Graham. Palmerston North. This was described by Mrs. Mackenzie as a very good section on the wholx the speech being good, but three or four competitors were definitely poor. VOCAL TRIO, ladies. Open class, own selection. (Two entries.) Misses E. Coulson, K. Sawyer and D. McKinley, Lyall Bay. 91 pls. .. 1 Mrs. May Rerill, Mrs. Kelloway ami Miss A. Bowie, Wellington, St) pts. 2 "The singing of tlie winning trio was noteworthy for very nice balance, and the tone was excellent,” said Mr. Griffiths, "The climaxes were admirably constructed. and the concluding bars were beautifully graded.” An alteration in the award for the operatic dance, 9-12 years, waltz time, judged on Monday, has been announced. The result is as.follows: —Dawn Larsen, Lower Hutt, and Freda C. Harris, Wellington, 79 points, 1; Joan Finnigan, Brooklyn, 71 points, 2. An additional result has been forwarded by the judge for the humorous recitation. girls, 12-16 years, own selection, th# result of which was published yesterday, and Beverley Peek, Berhampore, has been -sry highly; eommendei