SUCCESSFUL CONCERT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 90, 13 October 1931, Page 4

SUCCESSFUL CONCERT

COMBINED SECONDARY

SCHOOLS

The important work that those interested in musical culture are doing in our secondary schools was shown on Saturday night, when a large jaudienee, including Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Bledisloe, and the headmasters and staffs of Wellington's secondary schools, attended , a concert given in the Concert Chamber of the"-Town Hall by pupils \of the secondary schools. - The opening number was "Selections from /Sullivan," played by the Rongotai College Orchestra, under the conductorship o£ Mr;K. Meier. As in most .school orchestras, th§re was a' preponderance of violinists, but the balance of tone achieved was very satisfactory. The'orchestra later played selections from "II Trovatore." A flute solo, ''Exquisite Polka Elefante," and an encore were given by K. !. Ballantyne, of the Hutt Valley High School, and 0. A. Langtry, also of the Hutt Valley High School, played a clarinet solo. The singing ..of the glee clubs from. Wellington College and Rongotai College were outstanding features of the -pcogra^mme. *TJbe Wellington .College Glee Club, under the conductorship of Mr. T. fir.--Hisl&Pr-igav^. aa-its ...items,... "Maori. Hymn," * "Hebridean Song," and as an songr 'There was nothing better during the evening than the singing Of the Rongotai College Glee Club, under Mr. J. T. M'Caw's conductor' ship. The beauty of the boys' voices greatly impressed the audience, and gave proof of careful.. training. . The Scots .. College pupils; gave_as.their item, "Forest Gloom," the dialogue of which was written by X. Black and I. Campbell. The scene is laid in the wilds of Siberia, and it incorporates a number of^ Russian songs.. The boys, who achieved~a fine volume of tone, were trained by Mi*'. John Bishop. Two Wellington College boys, S. Adair and J. S. Martin, sang sweetly, Adair giving "What a Wonderful World it Would Be" and an encore, and Martin "The Musical Barber," and an encore. Pupils of Wellington College gave a fine physical drill display. The instructor was Mr. P. G. Thomson. A clever play, "A Collection Will be Taken," was given by Wellesley College pupils, and among the best performances those o£ A. L. Kennedy and M. J. Solomon should be mentioned. The producer was Mr. Clement May. During the interval, Dr. F. W. Kemp, chairman of the schools section of Toe H, traced the history of the annual camp i held in the Marlborough Sounds, and expressed the hope that in time His Excellency! would be able to spend a week there.