FINAL CONCERTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 11

FINAL CONCERTS

THE COMPETITIONS

ADDRESS BY VOCAL JUDGE

The twentieth annual festival of the Wellington Competitions Society will come to an end in the Town Hall tonight with the usual demonstration concert and the presentation of prizes by His Excellency the Governor-Gen-eral.

Twenty-eight items are on the concert programme, almost every one *by a winner. During the evening, four recalled competitors in the radio vocal solos, the preliminary hearing of which took place at 2YA studio yesterday, will sing in the final contest for- a prize of a valuable radio set. The recalled competitors in the men's class (32 competitors) • were Mr. Alan Pike (Wanganui), whose selection was "Silent Noon," and Mr. K. H. B. Strong (Wellington), whose number was "I Triumph." Of the 54 women competitors those recalled were Miss Zena Willis (Northland), who. sang "Come Lovely Sleep," and Miss Daisy Perry (Christchurch), whose selection was "Love Triumphant." They will repeat these songs tonight.

This afternoon in the Town Hall the final demonstration matinee was givea by the winners in the juvenile classes.

Psychological and physiological aspects of singing were the subject of an address given to competitors and others in the Concert Chamber this morning/ by Mr. John T. Leech, of Dunedin, judge of the vocal classes.

Mr. E. Ransom Myers, president of the Wellington Competitions Society, who presided, said that at no time in. his association with the society had competitors received from a judga such detailed criticism as they had from Mr. Leech this year.

Practical psychology was the first thing a teacher must know, said Mr. Leech. He should know why his pupils wanted to sing—whether for the pleasure of singing or for voice improvement. He should be able to' analyse his pupils, and he should make stint of their real desire to learn.

Physiology was another subject that a teacher and in fact every. singer should know, he said. With the aid of charts, the judge demonstrated the importance in singing of the various organs which produce and amplify the voice, and he stressed also the importance of breathing control and phonetics. He warned singers against stretching their, voices beyond their capacity, and said that he always kept his pupils two tones inside their range. If a person coulij sing one good note, he could sing all.. good notes,. said Mr. Leech. The material was there, and all it needed was proper development.'' .

Mr. .Leech answered a number at questions, and at the end of. his talk expressed appreciation of the help h$ had received from all connected the Competitions. Competitors in their turn showed their, appreciation of him in no uncertain manner