COMPETITIONS IN AUGUST

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 142, 12 March 1938, Page 15

COMPETITIONS IN AUGUST

“The Dominion” Aria Contest ADJUDICATORS APPOINTED FOR FESTIVAL Tlie twenty-first annual festival of the Wellington Competitions Society will be held at tlie Town Hall and Concert Chamber from August 20 to September 3 next. The executive of the society expects to issue the syllabus toward the end of the present month. Entries are to close for all events on June 17.

“The Dominion” Newspaper Grand Opera Contest will again be the outstanding feature of the festival, and will be conducted ou lines similar to the contests in the last three years. The winner of this contest will be sent to compete in the great Australian Aria Contest at Ballarat and Melbourne.

During the three years this contest lias been, held, the society has been successful In having no fewer than five candidates in the finals at Melbourne. The winner in Wellington in 1936, Mr. Ray Trewern, has since entered upon a musical career. Last year’s winner, Mr. Albert E. Chappell, with the second-place winner, Mrs. Russell Secular, of Wanganui, were both in the finals in Melbourne, Mr. Chappell gaining second place. Mr. Chappell has also entered upon a musical career, and accepted a position as understudy to Robert Halliday in J. C. Williamson Ltd.’s production of “Balalaika,” which has been meeting with success in Australia.

This contest conducted by the Wellington society is proving a spur to vocal talent in New Zealand, and provides an opportunity ’ for a young New Zealand singer to enter the larger musical field. Entries have been very good in the section during the last three years, and no doubt this year’s festival will see a large number of competitors entering for the coveted prize. A number of important alterations will be made in the Syllabus this year, particularly in the senior vocal section. A number of new items have been in-' eluded, among which is a microphone voice test. In the dancing section separate classes have been provided for boys and girls in the tap section. Altogether the syllabus will be an attractive one. The executive of the society has, given -careful consideration to the selection ot the adjudicators for this festival, and those appointed have high qualifications and wide experience in the work. The instrumental adjudicator will. be Mr. Ernest Jenner, A.R.A.M., Christchurch. Mr. Jenner is well known in Wellington, having adjudicated at the society’s festivals.on a number of occasions. Mr. John T. Leech, Dunedin, will be the vocal and choral judge. Mr. Leech adjudicated at last year’s festival, and his work was so well spoken of that many requests were made for his reappointment. Mr. Leech is a tenor soloist in all classes of vocal art, sacred, secular, oratorio. light and grand opera, and has performed for the YA stations in New Zealand and Australian national stations. He has been a teacher of voice production and singing for over 25 years, and lectures on vocal culture. Also he conducts choirs and orchestras in Dunedin. He received his early musical training in Manchester, England. Mr. Walter Russell-'Woocl Dunedin, who judged the elocution at the 1936 festival, will do so again. Mr. Wood has had considerable experience ae an adjudicator in New Zealand and Australia.

The judge of the fancy dancing is to be Miss Rona Vaughan, Christchurch. Miss Vaughan is a highly qualified judge with considerable experience in competition work, having adjudicated at Dunedin and other centres. National dancing will be judged by Miss Muriel Waugh, Christchurch. _ Miss Waugh is an experienced judge in all classes of national dancing and has adjudicated at many festivals throughout New Zealand. As this is the coming-of-age year of the society the executive is niaking every effort to ensure that the festival will be the most successful yet held.