WELLINGTON SINGER’S SCHOLARSHIP

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 2, 27 September 1944, Page 8

WELLINGTON SINGER’S SCHOLARSHIP

Nephew Of Rosina Buckman “Won best scholarship Royal Academy. Stokes scholarship.” This was the text of a cable message received by Mr. F. L. Rossiter, Te Anau Road, Hataitai, yesterday, from his son, Mr. Morrisop B. Rossiter. The scholarship winner, who is only 21. years of age, was educated at the Hataitai School and” Rougotai College. He was employed for a time with AV. D. and H. O. Wills, till he joined the armed forces. Earlier this year he was discharged from the army on medical grounds, and in June last, on the advice of several distinguished singers ami teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Rossiter managed to secure for their son a passage to England, iu order to pursue his vocal studies at the Royal Academy. Mr. Rossiter is the possessor of a fine natural bass voice, with a two-octave range, and of good quality throughout the register. Such judges as Messrs. Andersen Tyrer, Oscar Natzke, and Heddle Nash considered that the boy should have his chance if it were possible. He had little tuition iu New Zealand, but secured a high percentage of marks- when examined by Mr. Lloyd Powell, examiner for the Royal Academy of Music in New Zealand last year. This, it is understood, would not influence the academy authorities in London, as the practice is for them to examine all entrants as soon as they arrive iu order to place them. Evidently it was .the result, of this examination (bo had only been in London six weeks) which gained for Mr. Rossiter the Stokes scholarship. Mrs. Rossiter, mother of the singer, is a sister of Miss Rosina Buckman, so well known on the concert and operatic stage 20 years ago.