AN EXCELLENT CONCERT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 130, 29 November 1926, Page 5

AN EXCELLENT CONCERT

BY STUDENTS OF WELLINGTON BOYS' COLLEGE.

That there are singers, elocutionists, ami musicians at the Wellington Hoys College o£ real merit was shown in no uncertain manner on Saturday evening, when a concert was given in the Town Hall in aid of the pavilion fund. J'or the past le\v years similar concerts have been held, 'and now they have come to be looked forward to as an important event in the school year. The performance on Satui* clay evening was quite as good, ii not bettor, than its predecessors. It was unfortunate that the weather should he so unfavourable, but despite this drawback there was a remarkably good attendance. With a large gathering of boys, their parents, and friends, it was only natural that applause should he unstinted. Every item was enthusiastically applauded, and this, in itself, boro testimony to tho merit of the performers. The programme was well varied, and owing to its length no encores were permitted. All the items were by boys attending the college, with the exception of two or three, which wore provided by Old Boys. The entertainment was commenced with an overture, "llakoezy" (Keler Bela) by the college orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr. J. Lomas. It was this first item which removed any doubt (if there was any) that the concert was just a veryaverage school entertainment. The orchestra played with delightful harmony, and_ was at once popular with the big audience. There followed a song by G. B. C. Bliss, "In Old Madrid" (Trotere). Although the number has a large acquaintance with singers, Bliss's rendering of it, nevertheless, was very pleasing. A violin solo, "Serenade" (Drdla) by S. Pomeroy was a very acceptable item, as was the recitation by R. G. Whitehead of Thomas Bracken's "Not Understood." Instrumental trio numbers, "Humoreske" (Dvorak), and "Ciribiribin" (Pestalozza), by O. Keys (violin), A. E. Burd (flute), and A. G. Rodda (piano) were most enjoyable, and the players justly earned much applause. W. J. Frethey and A. S. Catlicai't are to be commended for their rendering of the duet "Anchored" (Watson). As in past years, an exhibition of physical training by a team under Mr. P. G. Thomson was excellent. The team was a model of physical fitness, and the smartness and precision with which the boys carried out their work was a credit tp their instructor. Three folk songs by the choir, under the conductorship of Mr. J. T. M'Caw, concluded the first half of the entertainment. The numbers given were •"'Mowing the Barley," "John Barleycorn," and "Twenty Eighteen." Here again it was apparent that the boys had received very assiduous traiuing. With "Cavatina" (Raff), the orchestra led off well in the second half. Then in order followed a recitation, "Ballad of John Nicholson" (Newbolt), by G. C. Power, pianoforte sole, "Marche Militaire" (Schubert), by M. Boyd; two choir numbers; a violin solo by F. Martinelli; and a recitation, "He Fell Among Thieves" (Newbolt), by L. H. Searle. As a grand finale came "The Pyramus and Thisbe Scene" from "A Midsummer Night's Dream." It was this number which put the seal on the entertainment. The boys were in costume, and the two who played Pyramus and Thisbe were especially good, and kept the audience in a state of merriment the whole. time they occupied the stage. The concert was excellently arranged, and was a credit to the school.