COMPETITIONS AGAIN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 278, 21 August 1944, Page 6

COMPETITIONS AGAIN

Opening Of Wellington Festival WOMEN SINGERS PRAISED

With record entries and enthusiasm among competitors and the public quite as great as in previous years, the annual festival of the Wellington. Competitions Society began on Saturday. It is the first festival the society has been able to hold since 1941 because of earthquake damage to the Town Hall. The competitions will continue for two weeks, in winch time 219 events will be judged by tb e seven adjudicators. On Saturday night the main hall contained one of the largest audiences that the competitions have attracted for many years, the programme being a concert composed of a wide variety of popular competitive items and the official opening by the mayor, Mr. Appleto Introducing Mr. Appleton, the president of the society, Mr. E. R. Myers, pointed out that the Town Hall was barely out of the hands of the repairers and said that it was only by the goodwill and sympathetic consideration of tlie city council that the society had been able to start the festival on time, lhe mayor had taken an interest in the preparations, and the council officers han been indeed helpful. The alterations to the building had improved the back-stage facilities, and one could not find children disrobing in passages, as had once been the ease. , Mr. Appleton said it was fitting that the 25th annual festival of tbe society should be marked by record entries, the total being 4851, an increase of 1461 on the total for the 1941 festival It was unfortunate that earthquake damage had prevented the society using the lowu Hall for the past two years, but the competitions resumed in improved surroundings. ' Mr. Appleton expressed pleasure at there being five entries in tbe ° rat ?. r 7 class, there having been none at the previous festival. A high standard oi public speaking should be encouraged because many a man of talent was pre vented from making his contribution to public life by inability to express himself well 9710 increase of uOO. each in the vocal and elocutionary sections was also a good omen. Strong entries in the musical section showed that there was a bulwark against the complete acceptance of “canned” music. Nearly IaOV entries in the dancing section also was very encouraging. Mr. Appleton concluded by remarking that the society was fortunate in the calibre of the adjudicator, it had 'engaged, by congratulating the society on the efficiency of its organization and by wishing the competitors and spectators an enjoyable and instructive £ °After hearing the 33 women who competed in the Scottish folk song class the vocal adjudicator, Mr. J. Leech, knine din, said that if the section was a forerunner of what was to be heard in future contests at the festival the public would have a feast of good music Following are the results of event, on Saturday, events in which recalled competitors have yet to be heaid bein o omitted: — /.nrr CHORUS, under 16 years (f^SSj.-Mrs.Crawford’s Children's Choir, Wellington, 86 pts., 1; Petone Clnldj ren’s Choir, Petone, 84 pts., -, Haruo ru Pantomime Company, Lower Hutt, 82 pts., “'CONTRALTO TEST SOLO, "Peace (nine entries).—'Miss Mona Ross Hamilton, 82 pts., 1; Miss Eveline Hunter, Wellin„tO VOCAL tS SOM, N.Z. COMPOSER, men (13 entries). —Mr. Bert Hickford, McllingR- nts 1: Mr. F. 'Lynch, Trentham, and Mr. Norman Bosher, Brooklyn, 84 pts., equal. 2; Mr. Erwin Read, Trentham, 83 Pt IKISH FOLK SONG, men (12 entries).— Mr. F. Lynch, Trentham, 84 pts., 1, MrBert Ilickford, Wellington, 83 pts., MrNorman Bosher, Brooklyn, and Mr. Erwin Read. Trentham, 80 pts., equal, 3. SCOTTISH FOLK SONG, women (33 entries).—Miss Mona Ross, Hamilton, So pts-, 1; Miss Merlyn Todd, Glentunnel, and' Mr.,. Bettie Goodwin, Wellington, 84 pts., equal, “ VERSE SPEAKING CHOIR, under 14 years (four entries).—Convent of St. Madeline Sophie, Island Bay, .85 ptS., 1, Mount Carmel Convent, Hataitai, 81 !>«•, -• St Catharine’s Convent, Kilblrnie, 80 pts., SHAKESPEAREAN RECITATION, women (12 entries). —Miss Gladys Tonkins, Wanganui, 84 pts.. 1; Miss Joan Prendergast, Hamilton, 80 pts., 2; Miss V. G. Compton, Wellington, and Miss Joy Tremaln, Wellington. TO pts., equal. JPIANO SOLO, 16-21 years own selection (25 entries).—Miss Beryl Richardson, Johnsonville, 87 pts., 1; M ls sJ caa “5' Laglan, Masterton, 86 pts.. Miss Gabrielle Phillips. Wellington, 85 pts., 3. TOE DANCE, 16 years and over (2o entries). —Mr. Alexander Grant, Wellington, and Miss Joy Smith, Wellington, 92 pts., equal, 1; Miss Valerie Holder, Lower Hutt, S 7 Pts., 3. ... TOE DANCE, 0-12 years (24 entries).— Dorothy Jenness, Lower Hutt, 87 pts., 1: Paddy Holland. Wellington. 85 pts., Norma Horsley, Newtown, 82 pts., 3.