RADIO SINGERS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 285, 29 August 1935, Page 11

RADIO SINGERS

Competition Classes

Heard YESTERDAY’S AWARDS Special Item at To-night’s Concert Preliminaries of two of the most interesting items that are being held as part of the Wellington Competitions Society’s festival were judged yesterday—the 2YA vocal solos for ladies and gentlemen. Two entrants in each class have been recalled, and they will be broadcast from the station on Saturday night. There will be a radio set in the Town Hail, where the judge will sit and make his final decision. A number of other large and interesting classes were judged during the day, and on the evening programme a further selection of the entries in the classes being judged at nights was heard by a large audience. Miss Gladys Moncrieff was present at the Town Hall during the concert and addressed the audience, being received with tumultuous applause. *‘l think it is a very fine thing on the part of ‘The Dominion’ to give young s'ngers such a chance,” she said, in reference to the grand opera contest, “for to win this competition and to go to Ballarat is a very line thing.” She wished all the competitors luck, and said that if she was in Australia when the contest was held she would certainly go to listen to the New Zealanders. Miss Moncrieff concluded with some amusing references to her own experiences as a girl in competitions. To-day's Classes. The four halls will be occupied throughout to-day, commencing at 9 a.m. as follows : —Town Hall: Operatic dance, 12-14 years; national dance, hornpipe, under 12 years; character dance, under 9 years; poetic or classic • barefoot dance, 14-16 years. Concert Chamber: Girl’s song, 12-14 years; Irish folk song, ladies; piano solo, reading at sight, over 16; soprano solo; vocal solo, New Zealand composer, gentlemen ; vocal solo with accompaniment and obbligato. Blue Triangle Hall: Itecital with musical accompaniment, ladies; action recitation, boy or girl, 1216; recitation in character, humorous, # girls 12-16 years recitation in character, not humorous, boys 12-16 years. Wesley Hall: Recitation in character, not humorous, girls under 12; dialogue, boys and/or girls under 12; junior test recital, boys under 12; recitation (restricted), boys under 12. The highlight of the concert at the Town Hall to-night will be the appearance of Mr. Denis Dowling, the winner of last year’s Melbourne “.Sun” aria competition. This corresponded to the one the winner of "The Dominion” operatic contest now being held in Wellington will attend. Mr. Dowljng will .sing the aria which he sang at the Melbourne Town Hall last October before an audience of 2600 to be judged the best of approximately SO singers gathered from all states of Australia and New Zealand. It will be his last appearance in New Zealand before leaving for England.' Four more candidates in the grand 1 opera contest will sing before the judges to-night. They’ are Miss E. Courtenay, Miss N. E. Partridge, Miss Marjorie Bennie and Mr. Martin Liddle, all of Wellington. A number of prominent winners of classes at the competitions will be selected to appear on the programme, and the impromptu speeches, in which there are seven entries, will be adjudicated and the result announced. There will also be

heard the first of the church choirs (Kelburn Presbyterian Church) in two items, and the remainder of the programme will consist of a bright and varied selection of talent. Owing to the length of time taken in the elocution classes it has been found necessary to extend the sessions at the Blue Triangle Hall by one day. and a number of classes are now announced to be judged next Thursday. Yesterday’s Awards. SONG IN CHARACTER, boy or girl. 12-16 years. Own selection. (25 entries.) Melvyn Aston, Brooklyn, 90 pts. ... -. 1 Nancy True, Wellington, 89 pts 2 Very highly commended: Joyc.c Webster, Lower Hutt: Jean Cerchi, Roseneath; Bryce D. Glennie, Lower Hutt; Frank Sergent, Northland. Highly commended: Lois J. Wilton, Wellington; Donqjd Young, Newtown; Joan Kaywood, Wellington. Commended: Patricia Liardet. Miramar; Josephine M. Peters, Wellington; Betty Rosenthal, Karori,. • “In judging this class,” said Mr. Griffiths, “I took into consideration that there is a lot of difference between the ages of 12 and 16; a lot of difference between the mental outlook of boys and girls; and undoubtedly a lot of difference in the cost of costumes. I think the costumes that pleased me best were those obviously made at home. The winner was not spectacular so much, as delightful in the presentation of a quiet scene. I was particularly pleased to see so many boys in this group, and al! of them did well. It is important to bear in mind that far more marks arc awarded for the actual vocal work than for the costume.” GIRLS’ SONG, 14-16 years; (a) “Blossom Time”; (b) own selection. (16 entries.) Rosaleen Pound, Wellington, 92 pts. 1 Joy Bracefield, Wellington, 9i) pts. .. 2 Very. highly commended: Margaret. Outtrim, Wellington. Highly commended: Jean Cerchi, Roseneath; Jean MacLachlan, Christchurch. Commended: Ngaire Garlick, Wellington; Josephine M. Peters, Wellington; Betty Rosenthal, Karori; Margaret F. Newton, Northland. “These girls,” said the judge, “are all on the threshold of adult vocal work. Most of them have voices of good natural quality, and it is urgently important that their voice production methods should be gentle at this stage to avoid all strain and to increase the vocal range by very gradual steps. The work generally was delightful.”

VOCAL SOLO, Gentlemen. Sung at 2YA studio (11 entries). Recalls: Mr. Edward West, Christchurch; Mr. C. Fpinklyn-Browne, Wanganui. Very highly commended: Mr. zilan Pike, Wanganui; Mr. Walter Bentley, Newtown.

Highly commended: Mr. Leonard J. Hopkins. Wellington; Mr. Herbert Seaton. Wellington. Commended: Mr. R. Bryant, Berbamporo; Mr. Henry W. Turner, Wellington. VOCAL SOLO, Ladies. Sung at 2YA studio (31 entries). Recalls: Miss Eunice W. Scott, Wellington; Miss Sybil Phillipps, Auckland. Very highly commended: Miso Una Thomas, Brooklyn; Miss Doreen Bennell, Wellington; Mien Eileen Courtenay, Wellington. Highly commended: Mins Kathleen Bond, Lower Hutt; IMifis Daphne Ebbett, Palmerston North; Miss Grace Gaudin, Hataitai; Miss Kathleen Sawyer, Hataitai; Mrs. Gordon Morrow, Christchurch. Commended: Miss Dorothy La Monte, Wellington; Miss Greville Wiggs, Karori; Miss Erice Duncan, Lyall Bay; Miss Doris Corser, Petone; Miss Bettie McClellan, Wellington. PIANO SOLO, 12-14 years, “Sunshine” (22 entries). Loretto Cunningham, Lower Hutt, 88 pts 1 Barbara Logan, Hataitai, 85 pts. ... 2 Commended, Colyn Hynes, Wellington. “I was a little disappointed with the clans as a whole,” said Mr. W. E. Fowler, the judge. ‘The piece is a well chosen test piece and should not be too difficult

for the age for which it is set. The chief fault was a want of continuity. The piece is a bright, cheerful, happy, little thing, as the title (’Sunshine’) suggests, but hardly any of the candidates got the right spirit, neither did they get the delightful little changes of tone.” PIANO DUET, over 16 years. Own selection (two entries).

Miss Audrey Whitelaw and Miss Gretchen McGreevey, 75 pts

The judge described this as a very poor section, the standard of the pieces selected and their performance both being low. The choice of pieces must count in the judging, and competitors should avoid old-fashioned pieces that gave a “street piano” effect.

PIANO DUET, 12-16 years. Own selection. (Ten entries.) Loretto Cunningham and Zito Mc-Mahon-Box, Lower Hutt, 90 pts. 1 Yolande Bitossi and Rita Simpson, Northland, 89 pts . 2 Very highly commended: Mary Smith and Eunice Johnston, Wellington. Mr. Fowler said that this, class was as good as the class for players over 16 was poor. It was a very fine competition in which there was a better choice ot pieces and a higher standard of playing all the way through. One would have expected tlie opposite. The winners had given a fine performance, and he had had difficulty in choosing the second prize winners. KATHERINE MANSFIELD RECITATION, NEW ZEALAND AUTHOR, lady or gentleman. “Old Letters” (Bracken). 16 entries.) Miss Grace Nixon, Christchurch, 80 pts. •••••• * Miss Daphne M. Violieh, Wellington, 78 pts •• • *- Highly commended : Miss Violet Potter, Wellington; Miss Doris Mildenhall, Wellington; Miss Nola Hyde, Brooklyn. JUNIOR TEST RECITAL, boys 14-16 years. Own selection. (Four entries.} Len Crothers, Island Bay, 74 pts. .... 1 Richard Burgess, Lower Hutt, 72 pts. 2 RECITATION, boys 9-12 years. “It Couldn’t Be Done.” (24 entries.) Gordon Teward, Lyall Bay, 66 pts. .. 1 Murray Todd, Island Bay, 65 pts. ... 2 Highly commended: Donald I'orter, Karori/Murray Platt, Lower Hutt; John Dexter, Wellington; Keith Dudson, Wellington.

RECITATION, girls 9-12 years (restricted). “Picnics.” Marie Foote, Wellington, 72 pts. .. 1 Dorothy Guest, Wellington, 71 pts. . 2 Very highly commended: Bernice Burgess. Karori; Rae Gent, Wellington. Highly commended: Shirley Bentley, Petone; Ngaire Rice, Ngaio; Ruth Simpson, Paekakariki; Mavis Trower, Petone ; Joyce Cataldo, Island Bay.

RECITATION, girls 9-12 years (restricted). “Picnics.” (33 entries.) Maureen Johns Wellington, 69 pts. .. 1 Hazel Black, Eastbourne, 68 pts. . 2 Very highly commended: Taieri Dear, Brooklyn; Betty Campbell, Upper Hutt; Rosemary Page, Wellington. The winner, although not especially good technically, entered very well into the spirit of the poem and showed real appreciation of its qualities, said Mrs. MacKenzie.

RECITATION IN CHARACTER (not humorous), boys under 12. Own selection. (12 entries.) Colin Ashbridge, Wellington, 72 pts. 1 Murray Todd, Island Bay, 68 pts. .. 2 Very highly commended: Albert Hewson, Petone; Gordon Teward, Lyall Bay. Mrs. MacKenzie congratulated those responsible for arranging the boys’ clothes and setting the stage. She said it was an interesting section. Some very ambitious characters had been' selected. The winner and the candidate who was placed second had good sense of drama and had the ability to act.

HUMOROUS RECITATION, ladies (open class). Own selection. (20 entries.) Miss Daphne M. Violieh, Wellington, 78 pts.* 1 Miss Nola Hyde, Brooklyn, and Miss Freda Whittaker, Palmerston

North, 77 pts 2 ‘ 1 Highly commended: Miss Nathalie Pollock, Kelburn; Miss Marjorie Hill, Brooklyn. TAP DANCE, under 12 years (39 entries).

John Dexter. Wellington, 94 pts. .. 1 Constance Chalk, Wellington, 82 pts. 2 Very highly commended: Louise Yorke. Kelburn.

Highly commended: Joan W. Hutn- . phreys, Wellington. Commended: Judy Cooper, Wellington ; Joyce Appleby, Brooklyn; Patricia Oliver, Wellington; Ralph Wilkin, Wellington ; Anne Boe, Wellington; Joy Leney. Wellington. “This was one of the most enjoyable sections that I have seen,” said Miss Irene Stone, the judge. “The winner did some lovely work. The second prize winder also was an outstanding tap-dancer.” CLOG DANCE, 14-16 years. (Six entries.) Jean O’Connor, Wellington, 73 pts. .. 1 Peggy Smyth, Wellington, 71 pts. ... 2 Miss Stone expressed surprise at the smallness of this-section,’ but said that the prize-winners were very good.

DANCE DUO, 12-16 years. (13 entries.) Ngaire Keys and Diana Elliott, Wellington, 73 pts. 1 Shona Bennetts and Peggy Smyth, Wellington, 72 pts 2 Very highly commended: Joan Clements and Joan Tandy, Roseneath. Highly commended: valcska Jenkins and partner, Kilbirnie; Betty W. Elliott and Rita Guise, Lower Hutt.

“This was one of the best dancing sections in the festival so far. and the performances were most artistic in every sense,” said Miss Stone. “It was a great tussle among the first three.”

CHARACTER DANCE, under 9 years. (34 entries.) Joy Y. Payton, Brooklyn, 73 pts. 1 Joyce Leek, Wellington, 67 pts 2 Very highly commended: Joy Leney, Wellington. Highly . commended: Fay Compton, Wellington. Commended: Pamela Trimmer, Lower Hutt.

“The babies iin this class were most amusing, and the winner was very good,” remarked Miss Stone,

JUVENILE CHOIR, 20-30 voices, (a) Part song accompanied; (b) part song unaccompanied! Napier Junior Choir, 178 pts 1 Technical College, Wellington, 176 pts. 2 In commenting on the work of the Napier choir, the judge expressed his pleasure at the fresh and well-trained quality of the voices. .Such singing he imagined to be rather unusual outside Wellington. The balance in both songs was excellent and the rhythm was carried right through the song in a notable manner. The control of the choir was admirable, and only training of a high order could have produced such very pleasing results. Similar comments were made on the performance of the Technical College choir, which was very little behind that of the winners. Here again excellent, control was evident, and the work of both choirs reflected the greatest credit on the schools concerned.

In the results of the piano solo, over 16, published yesterday, Miss. Audrey Whitelaw should have been credited with a very high commendation instead of a high commendation. The result of the class for recitations by girls aged 9 and under 12 years (section B), should have shown Melvtt Doney and Laureen M. Evans equal in secund place, instead of the two names that appeared.