JUNIOR CULTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 49, 27 August 1945, Page 6

JUNIOR CULTURE

A PHILHARMONIC CLUB

A junior philharmonic club which aims at the development of the cultural interests of the children of Wellington was recently founded in Wellington. The club, which is believed to be the first of its kind in New Zealand, will be open to children up to the age of 16 years, and lack of finance will be no bar to membership. A Wellington businessman first conceived the idea of forming such a club and financed the initial outlay. Its object \s to foster the development of juvenile talent in five groups—a choral group of 500 voices, a symphony orchestra of 125 players, a classical ballet of 100 performers, and a dramatic and a theatrical section of an undetermined number. The inaugural meeting of the club was held at its clubrooms in Featherston Street last week, and Miss Ngaio Marsh, the novelist and producer, who is spending a few days in Wellington, addressed the meeting. In expressing strong approval of the club, Miss Marsh said we were too far away in New Zealand for great musicians to visit us, so we had to do something about it, and the best thing to do was to develop our own talent. "It is to the young people of this country that the future of music here must look," Miss Marsh said. She said that the children of Wellington were particularly fortunate to have such an opportunity. Ih outlining the aims and. objects of the club, the organising secretary, Mr. Assheton Harbord, said that the club was not a money-making concern and would eventually become self-support-ing. It was not the intention of the club to take over the functions of professional teachers—indeed, the aim was to help the teachers and assist the pupils in gaining more experience. Business ' houses and other large organisations were being approached to provide, scholarships for the club which would entitle the pupil to 12 months' free' tuition from a professional teacher. Businessmen seemed very keen on the idea and it was hoped that by the time the club was got under 'way it would have 50 scholarships. The Minister of Education (Mr. Mason) had expressed strong approval of the club, and the Mayor had advised that the Town Hall and Concert Chamber would be available to the club at only a nominal charge.