OPERATIC CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 303, 18 September 1936, Page 3

OPERATIC CONTEST

Mrs. A. C. Barton Departs

New Zealand’s independent entrant in the Melbourne “Sun’s” operatic con. test at Ballarat next month passed through Wellington yesterday, en route to board the Awatea at Auckland, She is Mrs. Archie C. Barton, of Geraldine, who was placed second to Mr. Ray Trewem in “The Dominion” grand oipera contest at the Wellington competitions, but who won a somewhat similar contest at Dunedin.

Mrs. Barton is not given to “counting the chickens.” She told “The Dominion” yesterday that her trip was being taken on her own initiative, and was mainly for the sake of experience. “What would I do if I won the contest? I haven’t the slightest idea. I’ll just wait and see,” she said. “Of course, if a good offer is made to me in Australia, in broadcasting, for example, I shall jump at it. But at present everything is ‘in the air’.” Mrs. Barton has no means of estimating the talent she will have to oppose, but does not see why a New Zealand singer should not succeed. She is prepared to give of her best, and be satisfied with what the Fates send. It is her first trip to Australia. She was seven years a pupil of Mrs. Tait, of Timaru, a student of the New South Wales State Conservatorlum.