THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1938, Page 15

THE COMPETITIONS

ARIA SINGERS

LAST NIGHT'S CLASSES

Nearly half of the total number of competitors in the grand opera aria class at the Wellington Competitions Society's festival sang in the Town Hall last night, their items forming a large proportion of the variety concert programme. In addition there was the usual bright selection of dancing, popular singing, and elocutionary numbers from both winners and recalled competitors in various classes. The nine contestants in the grand opera aria section who were heard in the Town Hall last night were Mr.. Arthur Thomas, of Wellington, who J sang "Eri Tv," Miss Olga Burton, of Khandallah, who sang "Behold Titania," Miss Kathleen Montaperto, of Wellington,"who sang "Ombra Leggiera," Miss Cora Taylor, of Hamilton, who sang "Ah, Suicide," Mr. Allan Mentor, of Wanganui, who sang "Lohengrin's Farewell," Miss Evelyn V. Busbridge, of Wellsford, who sang "Thanks Unto Thee," Mrs. Richard Bradley, of Upper Hutt, who sang "Micaela's Song," Miss Ann Blewman, of Wellington, who sang "Eomanza and Scena," and Miss Eunice Compton, of Lower Hutt, who sang "Sappho's Farewell." Placings in classes heard yesterday afternoon and last night are as follows: — MEN'S NEW ZEALAND TESTRECITAL. (Seven entries.) Mr. Robert A. Cheyne (Eastbourne), 168 1 Mr. Nat Beatus (Wellington), 166 .. 2 Mr. Richard Burgess (Lower Hutt), 164 ■....■ 3 Very highly commended: Mr. Ronald Wakelin (Hataitai). While eulogising the competitors for the choice of their selections, Mr. Russell-Wood expressed disappointment in the standard of work of nearly all the competitors in the set piece. The interpretations invariably . lacked the requisite patriotic fervour and were in some cases rather staccato. Several of the performers suffered from lapses of memory, and thero was a noticeable uncertainty about some of the lines. All the own selections were of high literary value and considerable artistry marked most of the interpretations. The winner gave a virile interpretation of the test, and in his own selection his work was marked by poise, sympathy, and artistry. The competitor placed second did very well in the test, giving an interpretation that was rhythmic and impressive. In his second piece he. was rather boisterous and his gesture was not very good. GIRLS' HUMOROUS RECITATION, under 12 years; own selection. (49 entries.) Recalls: Colleen Gay (Petone) and Nathalie Wallace (Island Bay). Beryl Richardson (Johnsonville), Patricia A. Wright (Lyall Bay), and Mary Falder (Wellington), each 79, equal 3 Very highly commended: Dawn Freeman (Nelson), Fay Compton (Kilbirnie). Highly commended: June Wharrie (Karori), Suzanne Burns (Island Bay), Jean Alexander (Lower Hutt), Elaine Goodman (Berhampore), Marie Pescini .(Lower Hutt). WOMEN'S SCOTTISH FOLK OR NATIONAL SONG, own selection. (20 entries.) Recalls: Miss Cora Taylor (Hamil* ton), Mrs. Richard Bradley. (Upper Hutt), and Mrs. J. A. Wiltshire (Miramar). ■~- ■■ ,». . m Section winners: Soprano, Miss Taylor; mezzo-soprano, Miss Grace Potter (Wellington) 1, Miss Grace Nixon (Christchurch) 2; contralto, Mrs. Bradley 1, Mrs. Wiltshire 2. WOMEN'S VOCAL SOLO, 18-21 years; own selection. ■' ' ' (19 entries.) 4 Miss Eirene Halbert (Gisborne) and Miss Jean Curtis (Wellington), each 87, equal 1 Miss Marjorie Whittington (Karori), 85 • 2 Miss Evelyn Ledger (Christchurch), 84 • • 3 Very highly commended: Miss Audrey Lawson (Wellington), Miss Pnyllis Solly (Newtown). Highly commended: Miss Joyce Oliver (Lyall Bay), Miss Jocelyn Fields (Nelson), Miss Evelyn V. Busbridge (Wellsford). The class brought forward some splendid material, with evidence of good singing foundation, said Mr. Leech. The songs were mainly of legato nature, which was the style the young voices should adopt until they had formed up their production and obtained mastery of the breath. Diction was in almost every instance polished, and the vocal groundwork very sound. CLOG DANCE, under 9 years. (6 entries.) Valeric Johansen (Wellington), 69 . 1 Kathleen Sander (Wellington) and June Edge (Lyall Bay), each 68, equal 2 Very highly commended: Audrey Cuthbert (Wellington), Alan Vann (Newtown). Miss Vaughan said that the section was enjoyable and interesting throughout. HIGHLAND FLING, under 9 years. (21 entries.) Keith Muir (Newtown), 71 1 Audrey Cuthbert (Wellington), 70 . 2 Betty Sines (Wellington), 68 3 Very highly commended: Nancye Conway (Longburn). Highly commended: Anne Currie (Brooklyn), Betty Williams (Wellington). Commended: Ellen C. Gardner (Wadestown). "This was indeed a very good class for such tiny tots," said Miss Waugh. The majority of the competitors were well kilted. The • winner danced a good, steady fling, with good positions and interpretation. The competitor placed second also was very neat in her work. InISH REEL, imder 16 years, team of four. (8 entries.) Miss Adeline Burnette's School of Dancing No. 1 team (Peggy McKinnon, Peggy Tovey, Leah Kerr, Edna Whitelaw), 75 1 Miss Adeline Burnette's School of Dancing No. 2 team, 71 2 Miss Hazel Martin's School of Dancing No. 1 team, 70 3 Very highly commended: June Scott Studios (Palmerston North), Mr. Claude Sander's A team (Wellington). Highly commended: Miss Hazel Martin's School of Dancing No. 2 team. Throughout, the class was good, Miss Waugh remarked, the winners dancing very well together and giving a good interpretation of the dance. The team placed second was not quite as even in its performance, and the work of the team in third place, although good, was not quite so finished. JIG, 12-16 years. (35 entries.) Dorothy Winmill (Stratford), 74 ... 1 Peggy McKinnon (Newtown), Leah Kerr (Kelburn), each 73, equal 2 Very highly commended: Edna Whitelaw (Miramar). Highly commended: Nancy MacDonald (Wellington), Dorothy McLean (Palmerston North), Peggy Tovey (Miramar). Commended: Eileen Weaver (Wellington), Joy Jansson (Wellington). CLOG DANCE, 14-16 years. (9 entries.) Leah Kerr (Kelburn), 72 1 Joy Jansson (Wellington), 70 2 Very highly commended: Francis Rodgers (Newtown). Miss Waugh expressed disappointI ment with the standard of the work

in this section. 'The winner danced evenly and gave an enjoyable performance. DANCE DUO, 12 to 16 yl'ars. (25 entries.) Peggy Sagar and Margaret Scrimshaw (Hamilton), 83 1 Audrey Allardice and Jack Browne j (Brooklyn), 82 2 BOYS' TAP DANCE, 12 to 16 years. (11 entries.) Keith Woollett (Wellington), 85 ... 1 Ralph Wilkin (Wellington), 83 2 TOE DANCE, 12-14 years. (22 entries-) Audrey Allardice (Brooklyn), 83 ~ 1 Ngaire Bynam (Lower Hutt), 78 .. 2 Margaret Scrimshaw (Hamilton), 76 3 Very highly commended: Shirley Scott (Brooklyn), Kathleen Caldwell (Petone). Highly commended: Ruby Blair (Wellington), Joyce Appleby (Wellington), Sheila Tonge (Karori), Judy Cooper (Wellington), Joyce G'Smith i (Northland). j Commended: Betty Paynter (Wei-! lington), Dawn Larsen (Lower Hutt), Thelma Day (Miramar). "The 'work in general was good, but the arm movements were inclined to be too stiff," said Miss Vaughan. BARITONE TEST SOLO, "The Curfew." (Seven entries.) Recalls: Mr, George Verrall (Kilbirnie), Mr. Ralph Clapham (Wellington). It was a small class and rather disappointing, said Mr. Leech. "The Curfew" was a song full of fanciful imaginations calling for varieties of tone colour, merging from delicate gradations in mezzo-voce to moments when the singer, could use the full expanse of the voice, but the interpretation generally lacked vision and the general effect of the song suffered. It would be worth the baritones' while rereading the text. . TOE DANCE, 16 years and over. (Eleven entries.) Miss Marjorie Joan Clements (Hamilton), 84 points 1 Miss Vivienne Platt (Lower Hutt), 78 points .. ■, 2 Miss Lorraine Major (Palmerston North), 77 points 3 Very highly commended: Miss Alice Johnson, Palmerston North; Miss Violet K. Sutton, Nelson; Miss Kathleen McDonald, Brooklyn; Miss Margaret Chambers, Petone. GIRL'S TAP DANCE, 12-14 years. (Fifty-one entries.) Valeric Keys (Wellington), 81 points 1 Joan Gallagher (Wellington), 80 points) '. • 2 Peggy McKinnon (Newtown), 7.6 points 3 Very highly commended: Thelma Hutchinson, Wellington; Judy Cooper, Wellington; Joy Johnson, Wellington; Joyce G'Smith, Northland. Highly commended: Audrey Bowen, Wellington; Valeric Stewart, Christ.church; Audrey Allardice, Brooklyn. Commended: Noeline Johnson, Berhampore; Ruby Blair, Wellington; Betty Paynter, Wellington.