SCHOOLS CHORAL UNION

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 131, 1 December 1894, Page 2

SCHOOLS CHORAL UNION

Tho first concert of the Wellington Public Schools Choral Union, lately formed by Mr. Robert Parker and the local schoolteachers, was given in the Opera House last night, to an almost full audience. There were more than 500 children on the stage— a large number of others had to be sent away for lack of seating accommodation— and a very pretty sight they made as ihe curtain rose and discovered row upon row of morry littlefaces, the white - f rocked girls taking up about three - fourths of the huge square block, and the lady teaoherß forming a wedge in the middle. Over all came the soundingboard made for the late Musical Festival, with the pendant electric lights. The concert was one of which Mr. Parker and his coadjutors may well feel proud. There was no notable hitch in the whole performance, and the little people responded to their conductor's guidance right readily as to both time and expression. A very noteworthy point about their singing was the distinctness with which the words could be heard throughout. Five pretty little rounds were wetlsung, and for two of them, "A Southerly Wind and a Cloudy Sky" and '* Who Comes Laughing?" the audience would not be denied the privilege of encoring. These, with another round, " Hnmpty Dumpty," Boeckel's " Lullaby," and Rossini's " Carnovale," were the children's best item?, the last-named being another that had to be repeated. Misses Kan well and Stewart played pianoforte accompaniments, and Mr. VV. Mowbray occasionally relieved Mr. Parker at the conductor's desk. The class of pupil teachers sang a two-part song, " O Golden Days of Summer/ The lady soloist was Mies Solomon, a young lady who lately came from the West Coast goldfields, and has a promising soprano voice. In Bpite of nervousness she made a favourable impression in "When the Heart is Young" (Buck) and "Sing Sweet Bird" (Ganz), being warmly applauded and presented with flowers each time. Mr. Prouse sang capitally Dibdin's "Blow High, Blow Low," and Santley's " Son of the O can Isle," Mr. Mac Duff Boyd played two violin solos, and Miss M. Myers and Mr. Parker performed on the piano and harmonium Engel's arrangement of " Le "Prophets " airs. Another concert takes place to-night. The proceeds of the two performances are to be divided amongst the schools, to be expended in replenishing their libraries and upon scientific apparatus.