NATIONAL CONSERVATORIUM

Evening Star, Issue 22572, 13 February 1937, Page 4

NATIONAL CONSERVATORIUM

NOT JUST BRICKS AHO MORTAR “Not a thing of bricks and mortar only ” was a phrase used by the Director of Broadcasting (Professor James Shelley) in Christchurch to describe the conservatorium of music and the spoken arts which it is planned to establish in the Dominion. As the university existed wherever there was teaching, Professor Shelley said, so, the conservatorium would be throughout the Dominion. At the opening of the new 2YA station at Titahi Bay Professor Shelley said': “ Guest artists, conductors, and producers from overseas would be invited not only to broadcast, but to stay for a considerable time and teach local performers in the conservatorium.” , Elaborating this statement in an interview, Professor Shelley said that it was not planned to displace New Zealand teachers by bringing artists from overseas. The idea was to bring the teachers themselves under the inlluence of the best artists it is possible to bring to the Dominion, and in that way to encourage the practice of music and the spoken arts. As it would be represented by good teachers in all the centres, the conservatorium would be Dominion-wide and not merely an institution working in a centre. It should he possible. Professor Shelley said, for New Zealanders to conduct the music examinations which are held annually in the Dominion. Under the present system an eminent musician was sent to the country to do the work. It would he one of the aims of the conservatorium so to equip New Zealand musicians that they would be qualified to do work like that under the direction of the overseas examiners. With such a system in use the overseas examiners could have a much greater influence on the arts of the country than they could have under the system now in use. The National Symphony Orchestra to be associated with the conservatorium would include a number of musicians who would put all their time into the work of the orchestra. It would not be possible, for financial reasons, to have a large symphony orchestra in each of the four centres. To do that would _ absorb a large •mount of broadcasting income. So it was intended that the orchestra should practise works at its headquarters, and, after performing them there, visit the other centres. Only the fulltime members would travel, and the orchestra would be brought up to its full strength by players from the city being visited. The part-time players in the various centres could bo practising simultaneously. The artists' to be brought to New Zealand would bo the best it was possible to bring, Professor Shelley said, and - one thing which would help towards this would be the system' under which they would give their performances. They would play or sing or speak in halls to which the public would have admission at a reasonable charge, and they would be given every opportunity to exert their influence for the benefit of the Dominion. Broadcasting; was. the greatest influence in the world to-day, Professor Shelley said, and the job which had been entrusted to him was to guide New Zealanders in their use of it. It was not his intention to foist anything on the Dominion, but to provide for their needs as they declared them.