THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 45, 22 August 1938, Page 11

THE COMPETITIONS

SECOND DAY'S EVENTS

JUDGING IN THREE HALLS

Indicating the increased public interest being taken in the festival of the Wellington Competitions Society this year, Saturday night's "house" in the Town Hall showed a substantial improvement on that of the first night last year, and today the doorkeepers at all three halls, the Town Hall, the Concert Chamber, and the Blue Triangle, were kept busy. The society's membership has also grown this year and it is hoped that the attendances at the 1938 festival will match the record number of entries.

The four recalled competitors in the men's section of the class for the popular song hit will compete in the final in the Concert Chamber tonight, starting at 7.30 o'clock. The women's section has already been decided, and the Grace Moore Cup is to go to the winner who gains the highest marks in his or her section.

The first competitor in the class for junior entertainers will be heard at tonight's combined demonstration and competitive concert in the Town Hall. Another important class for decision in the Town Hall tonight is that foi the elocution scholarship (18-21), in which the two recalled competitors will give their items. A variety of singing and dancing numbers, including ballets, will comprise the rest of the programme.

In the Concert Chamber tonight the classes will be for the soprano test solo, the men's Scottisti folk or national song, the two recalled competitors in the women's song by a New Zealand; composer, the vocal solo and accompaniment, and the vocal duet.

At the 2YA studio at 6 o'clock tonight the first eight competitors out of 23 in the class for the radio voice test (18-21) will face the'microphone, the test piece to be selected by officers of the National Broadcasting Service. • .. •

Two classes will occupy the attention of the judge for the whole of tomorrow • morning in the Town Hall. They are for the operatic dance (restricted, under 9), and for the toe dance (9-12), and in the afternoon the classes will be for the character dance (8-10), the seann triubhais (12----16), and the eccentric dance (under "16). Competitors in the sacred song (under 16) class will occupy the morning in- the Concert Chamber, where in the afternoon will be heard the action song (12-16), and the women's folk or national song. A girls' recitation (7-10) will be the only class in the .Blue Triangle Hall in the morning, and- in the afternoon there will be heard the girls' humorous recitation (12-16) and the . boys' nonhumorous recitation in character (12-16). In the class for the operatic dance (under 6) on -Saturday afternoon Lorraine Coe (Wellington) was commended. . LIST OF PLACINGS. * Further results are as follows:— SKIPPING DAN€E, V 8 and under 10. (35 entries.) Recalls: Jqy Payton (Brooklyn) and Lloma Larsen (Lower' Hutt). . Versr^glxly: contended:5 Joy, Thear (Has'tingS}; Shirley. Turner (Wellington), Adeline Mardoti (Brooklyn). Highly commended: Jean Alexander (Lower Hutt), Zelda Tovey (Petone). Commended: Audrey Cuthbert (Wellington), Joy Da vies (Ly all Bay), Lynley "Wainscott (Lower Hutt). Miss Vaughan commented that in this section there were many good performers, whose work was careful and showed promise, but if was a little spoiled by too much tripping. WOMEN'S VOCAL SCHOLARSHIP. -: (23 entries.) Mrs. J. A. Wiltshire (Miramar), "A ■ Dieu Foreto," 171 I Miss Gwynneth Lewis (Lyall Bay), r "Ah fors c lvi," 163 .. .... 2 Miss Grace Potter (Wellington), "In Galling Fetters," 162 ....',..... 3 Very highly commended: Miss Molly Beveridge (Island Bay). Jiighly commended: Miss Fiske (Karori), Miss Jean Curtis (Wellington). ; Each competitor sang a set piece and one of her own selection. "It would be hard to enthuse over this section, for the general standard was not of any great height," said Mr. Leech. "In some instances the .ladies set themselves standards they failed to'maintain. The, test selections were not fashioned into positive shapes, and some of the renderings seemed casual. The sopranos sang Solveig's song from 'Peer Gynt** and lacked vision. The mood of Solveig was not always caught and exact rhythmic adjustments would have added freshness to the allegretto. Tschaikovsky's-To the Forest,* which the mezzo-sopranos sang, was in a few instances opened too quickly, which was inclined/to wreck the effect of the filial movement. Again the mood was too happy and hopeful when gloom should have been dispensed. The contraltos found difficulty in negotiating the long sweeping phrases in 'To Music/ The winning lady gave the best treatment of To Music 1 and displayed a good sense of style. Her own selection was an example of resourceful singing, the emotional stress being nicely judged without being overdone and showing willingness to react to varying musical expression, while there was some persuasive phrasing. She possesses a big 'voice and brought out a full armament of tone when the climax came." , POPULAR SONG HIT. Own selection song from recent cinema attraction, (26 entries.) LADIES' SECTION. Miss Eirene Halbert (Gisborne), 85 1: Miss Dorothy Dobson (Miramar), 81 21 Mrs. Eileen Miller (Miramar), 80 . 3 Highly commended: Miss Leah Johnston (Masterton). .. MEN'S SECTION. Recalls: Mr. Victor Woodward (New Plymouth), Mr. D. A. Goulden (Greymouth), Mr. Donald Davies (Hastings), Mr. Bernard Smith (Ngaio). "Nothing brilliant could be discerned in this section," said Mr. Leech. The material was exceedingly good, but frigid attitude spoiled many. The winning lady, he said, possessed a rich mellow voice and displayed good breath control and a good interpretative sense. Experience would help this lady to adopt a freer style. The lady placed second had an appealing voice with sympathy in it, the judge continued, but dropped a few marks at recall through stage fright. CHILDREN'S CHORUS, under 16 years. (Three entries.) St. Mary of the Angels Convent (Wellington), 161 I St. Anthony's Convent School (Brooklyn), 158 2 Mr. Leech remarked that the winning choir, which sang "Sweet and Low" and "My Curly-headed Babby," could with advantage attend to its phrasing, but the balance and blend were excellent and cohesion was good. A pleasant atmosphere was created, but the tempo in the first number was too glow. The choir revealed pretty

vocal quality, but shaded, the pitch a little. The second number was also good, with an appreciation of the imaginative side, and the choir was an attentive body of little singers. The choir placed second opened in good tempo, but omitted a few pretty grace i notes, and slight pitch deterioration detracted from its work, but it closed the nocturne that it sang with a beautiful mezzo voice. Its singing of "Almond Blossoms" was a commendable effort. CHILDREN'S CHORUS, Under 14 Years. (3 entries.) Hastings Junior Choir (Hastings), 164 1 Mrs. F. C. Tunley's Choir (Lower Hutt), 163 ... 2 St. Anthony's Convent School . (Brooklyn) 156 3 "They were three good choirs Of young people, reliant and well disciplined," said Mr. Leech. "School team singing should receive the greatest encouragement, for here we have the seed of our own future singers and potential choristers to help revitalise our slipping in choral societies. The difference between these three choirs was really slight. Deviation from pitch spoiled one choir's effort, and a too rigid tempo reduced the general effect in another instance. The winning choir displayed effective enunciation, good rhythmic flow, and an appreciation of nuances, but there were a few ragged bars, and final consonants were obscured at times. The choir placed second had good tonal blend. The gutteral 'X' in 'cuckoo' was too soft and this really important word lost character. Crisp enunciation was a feature and the florid work neat. The choir in third place was a good-toned one with good enunciation and an effective staccato, but lost a few marks through faulty intonation. Its second number was a very good effort." MEN'S RECITATION, "The Figurehead." (10 entries). Mr. Ronald Wakelin (Hataitai), 84 1 Mr. Nat Beatus (Wellington) and . Mr. Robert A. Cheyne (Eastbourne) each 83, equal 2 Highly commended: Mr; Richard Burgess (Lower Hutt), Mr. Don. Young (Wellington), Mr. Donald Davies (Hastings). Mr. Russell-Wood expressed disappointment with this class, remarking that few competitors realised the humorous possibilities of the piece. The work lacked spontaneity and was not up to the men's standard earlier in the day. The winner's was an interesting and slightly humorous effort, and did entertain. KATHERINE MANSFIELD RECITATION, New Zealand Author, "Soldier Settlement." (28 entries.) Miss Valeric Ashenden (Lyall Bay), 91 ■....■ 1 Miss Grace Nixon (Christchurch), 87 ;... 2 Miss . Constance Dewson (Rotorua), 85 v 3 Very highly commended: Mr. Robert A. Cheyne'(Eastbourne), Mr. Donald Davies (Hastings), Mr. G. Hooper (Kelburn). Highly commended: Mr. Nat Beatus (Wellington), Miss Margaret Jenkins (Wangahui), Miss Betty Welch (Ngaruawahia), Miss Claudia Slowie (Wellington), Miss Nola Hyde (Brooklyn). "This was one of the finest classes that I have had the pleasure to listen to for several years, and many of the performances reminded me of the high- : est standards maintained by the , younger professionals who grace the platform at Ballarat," said Mr. Russell- • Wood. "There was poise, depth, and sincerity in nearly all the performances. Almost every performer seemed to have a thorough-grip of the situation depicted"in' 'Mr. Mulgan's poem." The winner's was quite an outstanding interpretation, the judge ! commenting on her poise and consummate artistry. The second placed com- ' petitor gave a most rhythmic and sym- ; pathetic rendering. •■ j GIRLS' TAP DANCE, 14 and under 16. (24 entries). j Recalls: Ngaire Keys (Wellington) '■ and Dorothy Winmill (Stratford). Very highly commended: Valda < Rouse (Christchurch), Joy Jansson (Wellington). . ■ Highly commended: Sylvia Gunther {Christchurch), Lila Coddle (Wellington). Commended: Phoebe Lawson (Petone), Joan Tandy (Karori). , There were a few outstanding performers in this group, said Miss J Vaughan, and the standard on the whole was good. GIRLS' RECITATION, 12 and under 14. ; (30 entries.) : Lois Mountjoy (Wellington), 83 .. 1 ; Cavell Trask (Lower Hutt) and ■ Peggy McKinnon (Newtown), : each 82, equal 2 Nona Hood (Roseneath), Pauline ' d'Emden (Wellington), Laurel Luff (Wellington), each 81, i equal -. 3 ; Very highly commended: Beryl Davis ; (Island Bay), 80. Highly commended: Mary Martin ' (Rongotai), Judith Sloane (Johnson- 1 ville), Norma Angell (Hataitai). ■ "A very good and keenly-contested • class," said Mr. Russell-Wood. "Most : of the competitors had good voices and ' imagination and showed evidence of j training along the right lines. Vowel , sounds were not always pure and some of the reciters took the verses rather > too rapidly. The winner gave a quietly- j effective and most natural interpreta- ; tion, and the competitors placed second displayed talent of a high order." BOYS' RECITATION, restricted, 9 and : under 12. Own selection. (18 entries.) Derek Wedekind (Lower Hutt), 81 1 John Shearer (Lower Hutt), U0...... 2 Frank Poole (Wellington), 79 3 Very highly commended: Ivan Cher (Wellington), Max Nicholson (Petone), each 78. Highly commended: John Maybury < (Northland), 77. "An interesting class, although for the most part the boys lacked spirit and imagination," commented Mr. Rus- i sell-Wood. "Several spoke their verses '. with admirable diction, but in the majjority of cases vowel sounds were bad and facial expression lacking. How- ' ever, these boys have many years be- 1 fore them as platform speakers and no - doubt their youthful faults will disappear with perseverance. The win- ] ncr spoke with commendable spirit and although the second-placed competitor did very well, his work lacked spontaneity." GIRLS' SONG, 14 and under 16; own selection. (23 entries). i Joan Akers (Lower Hutt) .... 1 Judith White (Brooklyn) 2 Loris McEwen (Wellington) ....... 3 Very highly commended: Shirley , Austin-Turtle (Wellington), Violet ; Compton (Kilbirnie), Joan Franklin (Lower Hutt).

"Grace, ease, and naturalness of style should be the first considerations in young girl performers," said Mr. Leech, "and to avoid stretching their voices they should never be asked to sing on the fringe of their range. There should be a focus, directed on purity of tone, unforced, and with strict attention to breath control, refined treatment of text without adulteration, and a song suitable for the young voices and minds." Mr. Leech said that all the voices in the class were good and there were many good selections. The winner sang "The Piper From Over the Way" very well indeed. She had imagination and a valued word stress. The second girl sang "Should He Up-

braid" in a very correct manner, and displayed excellent musicianship, though she was not so well endowed vocally as the winner. GIRLS' SONG, 12 and under 14; own ! selection. j (22 entries.) Jean Rimmer (Wallaceville) 1 Joyce G'Smith (Northland) 2 Eveline Hunter (Wellington) 3 j Very highly commended: Betty Mercer (New Plymouth). Highly commended: Betty Paynter (Wellington), Madeline Gough (Petone), Heather Douglas (Masterton). Mr. Leech said that his remarks on the girls' song class (14-16) applied to this class also. The winner possessed a really fine voice and sang with an excellent idea of her song's requirements. She phrased excellently and balanced her voice in a commendable manner. The second-placed competitor sang charmingly. Her voice was well under control and she showed very clear enunciation and treated the phrases with balance and tonal effect. They were two good young people. j Saturday's results appear on page 5. i