THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 50, 27 August 1940, Page 7

THE COMPETITIONS

BALLAD SOLO FINAL

CLEVER CHILDREN

Finals in vocal and dancing sections were decided at last night's programme of the Wellington Competitions Society's festival in the Town Hall and .the Concert Chamber. One of the most interesting classes was that for a ballad solo, for which the prizes were presented by the music firm of Boosey and Hawkes. Soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, and bass voices were represented among the 21 entrants, and the judge, Dr. J. F. Staton, of London, awarded' first prize to Miss Eirene Halbert, of Wellington. Miss Janet Reynolds, of Wellington, was in second ,place, two points behind. There were not many competitors in the tenor test solo, in which the two recalled singers were Mr. C. Shirriffs, of Ashhurst, and Mr. R. Opie, of Wellington. The judge of the dancing ' classes. Miss Bettina Edwards, of Auckland', had a number of finals to judge last night. The open tap dance was won by Mr. Frank Rodgers, of Newtown. Gne of the most popular was the character dance for competitors under 6, in which class there were 30 entries. Miss Edwards said she was ■ surprised more by the cleverness of the good Eerformers, some of whom could not aye been more than three or four years old, than by the weakness of the others. She had not seen such clever little people under 6 for some time. The winner was Margaret Knight, of, Wellington. Results:— Boosey Ballad Solo (21 entries). —Miss Eirene Halbert (89 points), 1; Miss Janet Reynolds (87 points), 2; Miss Joan Bovis, Shannon; Miss Milllcent Penketh, Palmerston North I Mrs. Edna Dearlove, Te Aroha; and Mr. Clair Shirriffs, Ashhurst (each 86 points), equal, 3. \ Very highly commended t Miss Blanche Carr, Miss Vesta Emanuel, Mr. George Morrison, j Johnsonville; Mr. Ernest Gardner. Highly com-1 mended: Mrs. Florence Sim. Tenor Test Solo (6 entries). —Recalls: Mr. Clair Shirriffs, Ashhurst, and Mr. Ramon Opie. Third place, Mr. B. A. Treseder, Lower Hutt (81 points). , Open Tap Dance (14 entries). —Mr. Frank Rodgers (82 points), 1; Miss Leah Kerr, Lower Hutt (81 points), 2. Boys' Solo Song and Dance, 9-16 years (12 entries/). —Tommy Petherick (123 points), l: BalphVWilkin (122 points), 2. Highly commended: Colin Currie. Miss Edwards commented that the class bad been a good one. The winner had done an excellent eccentric dance. The entrant placed second had glyen quite a good impersonation and a really flne tap dance. Colin Currie was a comic soldier whose comedy was good, even If his dancing was not quite so good. Girls' Tap Dsnce, 12-14 years (36 entries).— j Joan Gallagher (S3 points), 1; Doreen McGinnlty (82 points), 2; Valeric Holder, Lower .'Hutt (80 points), 3. Highly commended: Shirley Goss, Lower Hutt; Valeric Jackman.1 Dance Duo, under 9 years (21 entries). — Dorothy Jenness and Judith Watt, Lower Hutt (85 points), 1; Betty Sines and Georgina Thomas (82 points), 2. Character Dance, trader 6 (30 entries). — Margaret Knight. (81 points), 1; Audrey GoldBpink, Petone (76 points), 2. Very highly commended: Norraa Horsley, Wellington. High-, \y commended; Jillian Chatfleld. Commended: Glennys Stewart and Deric Bircham. Humorous Musical Monologue, open class, own selection (7 entries) .—Miss Valeric G. Lewiß, Napier (82 points), 1; Mr. L. Constable (31 points), 2; Miss Patricia Trower, Petone (79 points), 3. Girls' Junior Test Recital, 14-16 years (7 entries). —Florence Murray, Dunedin (70 points), 1; Betty Murphy, Palmerston North, 'and Beryl Davis (78 points), equal, 2; Joan Roberts (77 points), 3. Girls' Recitation, 7-10 years (53 entries).— Melva Reid (81 points), 1; Marie Pesciui, Lower Hutt (80 points), 2; Ngaire Crawford {79 points), 3. Very highly commended: Dorothy Jenness, Lower Hutt; Valeric Dighton, Dawn Sargent, Jacqueline Ferris. Highly commended: Pauline Marshall, Lola Kench, Johnsonville; Lois Bognuda.