CHORAL SINGING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1938, Page 26

CHORAL SINGING

SCHOOL PUPILS IMPRESS

WELLINGTON FESTiVAL

Choral numbers of a particularly high standard were the features of the second night of the Wellington primary schools' festival in the Town Hall last night. Some difficult concerted songs were undertaken, but they were given in a manner that was a credit both to the children and to the teachers.

Another noteworthy pdint was the excellent organisation of the programme.. Though some hundreds of children had to be handled during the evening there was not a hitch throughout, and the Wellington Headmasters' Association, the promoters, have every reason to be proud of their third festival.

As on the first night the entertainment was attractively ' varied. There were choral numbers, physical exercises, folk dances, a play reading, a play, and percussion items.

In the excellent programme a trio of choral numbers by about 40 pupils of the Ngaio School was really outstanding. Their first number was "Caller Herring," a somewhat difficult part song, but the children accomplished it in an excellent manner. Their purity of tone was remarkable. Two other, numbers by the Ngaio children were "Pokare Kare Ana" and "There's Nae Luck Aboot the Hoose." | A brisk Irish reel by boys and girls of the Karori West School was another item which impressed. For this the girls wore green cloaks. Last night the pupils of ten schools participated, bringing the total for the festival to 19. PROMOTERS THANKED. :Mr. W. V. Dyer, chairman of the Wellington Education Board, thanked the organisers of the festival for the help that they were giving the Otaki Health Camp. The -festival, he said, was a musical treat, and he paid a tribute to"the work and time voluntarily put in by the promoters and those responsible for the training of the •"children. The festivals would teach the children a love of things cultural and he hoped that they would continue with their training in later life. He pointed out that the health camps,had benefited greatly from the efforts of schools and last year's grant by the festival committee of £70 had been of wonderful value at Otaki.

Mr. Dyer concluded by expressing the hope that the festivals would be continued in the future.. .

The remainder of the programme Was as follows:—

South Wellington School. —Choral, "Angels That Around Us Hover" ("Maritana," Wallace), "The Floral Dance" (Katie Moss); folk dances, "Curtsey Dance," "Russian Dance"; dramatic, "Silly Willie."

Newtown School.—Physical exercises; choral, "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," "Aloha Oe."

Seatoun School. — One-act play, "Merry and Bright" (Mary Woodman).

Island Bay School. —Folk dances, "Sage Leaf," "Old Mole"; physical exercises; choral, "Jerusalem" (Parry), "Land of Hope and Glory" (Elgar).

* Mt. Cook School.—Play reading, "The Wise Men of Gotham."

Worser Bay School.—Choral, "Sweet and Low" (Bramley), "Believe Me If All" (Moore).

Te Aro School. —Percussion Band (infants), "Lass of Richmond Hill," "Minuet" (Bach), "Johnny Comes Down to Hilo," "John Peel" (with senior