THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 52, 29 August 1935, Page 7

THE COMPETITIONS

LAST NIGHT'S CONCERT

GLADYS MONCRIEFF SPEAKS

LIST OE WINNERS

The appearance, on the stage of Miss Gladys Moncrieft, the Australian opera singer, was the outstanding feature and the most popular item on last night's "all-star" Competitions programme at the Town Hall. The famous singer was introduced amidst thunderous applause by. the Wellington Competitions Society's president, Mr. W. J. Mason, who announced that Miss Moncrieff would remain in the Dominion for another two months, broadcasting from the YA stations. Miss Moncrieff made a short bul happy speech, in which she wished the New Zealand representative in the Australian grand opera contest every mccess and promised her attendance it the contest if she were in Australia .vhen it was held. She related some musing' incidents of her own girl.ood days when she was an entrant .1 the'singing classes at competitionslore applause greeted her at the confusion of her entertaining speech. Winners who performed to a large idience last night were Miss Grace ixon, of Christchurch, who recited the :ce with which she took first place ,'he "Katherine Mansfield" recitation .. • "-ivmiqn. of Wellington, i who save the humorous recitation "Cockney at the Cinema"; Gracie McKay, of Wellington, who danced a scc.ni iriuonais; Miss Daphne Vio„...(_con, who recited the o .a. piece, "At the Breakfast able." in a style that was greatly apreciated; Mr. Victor Woodward, of ■Wellington, who sang the operatic solo E Lucevan E Stelle"; Ngaire Keys and iana Elliott, who danced "An Idyll ; /lelvyn Aston, of Brooklyn, who sang i character. "A Southern Mammy's ,ullaby"; Loretta Cunninghame and "Ha McMahon-Box, of Lower Hutt, vho played the pianoforte duet 'Hexentanz";) lan Galloway, of Khan lallah, whose musical monologue from Dickens was feelingly rendered; and Mrs. Edith Wiltshire, of Wellington, who sang an operatic solo, "Che Faro. Contestants in ' competitive classes were the Napier Junior Choir and the Wellington Technical College choir; Mrs. A. Liddell, of Invercargill, who -elated three humorous stories', Miss D Violich, of Wellington, who acted a story without words entitled "Six Minutes to Catch the Train"; Mrs. B. Tremain and Miss C. Kelly, who appeared In a classical dialogue, "Hypatia and Miriam"; Miss Hazel Martins ballet under 12; Mr. D. R. Bett, who delivered an oration upon Garibaldi; Mr. p. w. Cole, who entertained with ten minutes of magic; Miss Jean Benge's ballet aged 12 to 16; Mr. Fred Harris and Miss Yvonne Bennett in ballroom dancing; and Miss Joan Benge's song and dance team. The grand operatic contestants were Miss Valeric Ashenden, of Lyall Bay, who sang "One Fine Day"; Miss Mollie Cummings, of Wellington, who sang "Caro Nome" from "Rigoletto"; Miss Lynda M. Giddings, of Karon, who sang "Pregthera di Tosca"; and Mr. Colin Franklyn-Browne, of Wanganui, who sang "Walther's Prize Song" from Wagner's "Meistersingers." FURTHER PLACINGS. Additional results are;— JUVENILE CHOIR, 20 to 30 voices. (2 choirs competing.) Napier Junior Choir, 1781 ........ 1 Wellington Technical College, 17b & "It was a very great pleasure to hear the splendid little choir from Namer, said the judge.Mr. T-^rnon^Griffiths "Their tone was delightfully fresh and unrestrained and the diction was refined and clear. " In the two-part song the balance was splendid. The unaccompanied'was also very good, indeed. The seconds were worthy ot all commendation for. their good intonation. The firsts found the; high notes a little difficult, but made up for it by beautiful tone on the normal register "The Technical \ College girls . sang with a fine bold tone and their, intonation was excellent, especially in the case of the first trebles,. The seconds were not quite so certain. The rhythm was very good indeed. The unaccompanied was better even than the first song. The intonation of the second trebles was really good. Balance was admirable arid diction was excellent. The control throughout was admirable. CHARACTER DANCE, tinder 9. Section A. , (34 competitors.) I Joy Y. Paton, Brooklyn, 731 1 Joyce Leek, Wellington, 67 .A 1 Joy Leney, Wellington, - v.h.c; Fay ICompton, Wellington, h^Paula Trim !mer. Lower Hutt, c; Pamela Walden. W"Th" Sbabies in this-class • were most amusing and the winners were_ very good," said the judge, Miss Irene Stone. DANCE DUO, 12 and under 16. (13 couples competing.) Ngaire Keys and Diana Elliott, Wellington, 73...../ -• • • ••- f Shona Bennetts and Peggy Smyth, • Wellingon, 72 ■ ■ i Joan Clements and Joan Tandy, Roseneath, v.h.c; Valeska, Jenkins and partner, Kilbirnie, ' h.c.; Betty W. Elliott and Rita Guise, Lower Hutt, he '"This was one of the best sections so far in the festival," said Miss Iren<? Stone, who judged it. "It was most? artistic in every sense and there was a great tussle between the first three. SONG IN CHARACTER, boy or girl, 12 and under 16. (25 competitors.) Melvyn Aston. Brooklyn, 90 1 I Nancy True, Wellington, 89 /■ , Joyce Webster, Lower Hutt, v.h.c; I Jean Cerchi, Roseneath, v.h.c; Bryce D. Glennie, Lower Hutt, v.h.c; Frank Sergent, Northland, v.h.c; Lois J. Wilton, Wellington, h.c; Donald Young, Newtown, h.c; Joan Kaywood, Wellington, h.c; Patricia Liardet, Miramar, c; Josephine M. Peters, Wellington, c; Betty Rosenthal, Karori, c. "in deciding this class," said the "udge, Mr. T. Vernon Griffiths, "I took into consideration that there is a lot of difference between the ages of 12 and 16. a lot of difference between the mental outlook of boys and girls, and undoubtedly a lot of difference m the cost of costumes. I think the costumes that pleased me best were those obviously made at home. The winner was not spectacular so much as delightful in the presentation of a quiet scene. I was particularly pleased to see so many boys in this group, and all of them did well. It is important to bear in mind that far more marks are awarded for the actual vocal work than for the costumes." • GIRLS' SONG, 14 and under 16. (16 competitors.) Rosaleen Pound. Wellington. 92 .. 1 Joy Braceiield, Wellington, 90 2 Margaret Oultrim, Wellington, v.h.c; Jean Cerchi, Roseneath, h.c; Jean McLachlan, Christchurch, h.c; Ngaire Garlick, Wellington, c; Josephine M. Peters, Wellington, c; Betty Rosenthal. Karori, c; Margaret F. Newton, Northland, c "These girls," remarked the judge. Mr. T. Vernon -Griffiths,'-, "are all on the threshold of adult vocal work. Most of them have voices of good natural quality and it is urgently important that their voice production methods should be gentle at this stage to avoid all strain, and to increase, the vocal range by very gradual steps. The work generally was delightful." LADIES' HUMOROUS RECITATION. (20 competitors.) Miss Daphne M. Violich, Wellington, 78 1 Miss Nola Hj'de, Brooklyn, and Miss Freda Whittaker, Palmerston North, 77-, equal .... 2 Miss Nathalie Pollock, Kelburn, 76, h.c; Miss Marjorie Hill, Brooklyn, 75, h.c GIRLS' RECITATION, 9 and under 12. Section B. (33 competitors.) Maureen Johns, Wellington. 69 .. 1 Hazel Black, Eastbourne, 68 2 Taieri Dear, Brooklyn, 67, v.h.c; Betty Campbell, .Upper Hutt. G6,

v.h.c; Rosemary Page, Wellington, 6(5, v.h.c.

"The winner, although not so good technically, entered very well into the spirit of the poem and showed real appreciation," said the judge, Mrs. Craig MacKenzie.

BOYS' RECITATION IN CHARACTER, under 12. (12 competitors.) Colin Ashbridge, Wellington, 72 .. 1 Murray Todd, Island Bay, 68 2 Albert Hewson, Petone, 65, v.h.c; Gordon Teward, Lyall Bay, 64, v.h.c. Mrs. Craig MacKenzie, the judge, complimented those responsible for arranging the boys' clothes and the setting of the stage. It was an interesting section, she remarked, some, very ambitious characters being selected. Tlie two prize-winners had a good sense of drama and could act.