CHORAL SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 22896, 2 March 1938, Page 17

CHORAL SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING A note of optimism, both for the standard of the presentations and the state of the finance in the ensuing year was voiced by several speakers, at the annual meeting of the Choral Society held last evening. There was an attendance of about 60 members. The president (Mr A. Eels) occupied- the chair. The past year had been one of great interest—the first for the re-organised choir, the annual report stated. The choir had become far more efficient, and the standard of work had advanced in no small measure under the new scheme. During the year two prominent office-bearers had passed away —Mrs A. C. M‘George (vice-president) and Mr C. M. Barrett (chairman of committee and treasurer). Owing to the reorganisation, the members of the Madrigal Club had devoted all their atention to the works under rehearsal by the main body, and their activities were thus confined to rehearsals of a programme presented later at the Burns Club. There was a net gain for the year of £39 15s 2d, the balance Sheet showed, after depreciation on music and property at £ls 12s 6d had been written off. Outstanding accounts amounted to £53 13s sd, and the liquid assets, £35 15s 3d, which meant that the current assets showed a deficiency of £l7 18s 2d as compared with £56 5s 7d and £125 8s 5d in the previous two years. The financial position was a satisfactory one, the President said in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, but this was mainly due to the donations of members and the sacrifices of some office-bearers with respect to their remunerations. The position would have to be reviewed and strengthened, he said, and he appealed to the members to enlist at least one new subscriber each this year. Also honorary members could take more interest than they had displayed last year. Mr Eels then eulogised the work of Mr A. Walmsley as the conductor of the society. Assisted a groat deal hy the reorganisation of the choir, he had lifted the presentations of the society to a level never before attained. They had brought favourable comment from all quarters. Air F<jls concluded.

In' seconding the motion, Mr C. Watson said that although the year had been an arduous one for the members the results had fully justified the extra work. The Ladies’ Auxiliary Committee was deserving of high praise for its efforts to raise funds. The motion was carried. CONDUCTOR’S REPORT. From the purely musical standpoint the past season had been most encouraging, the conductor (Mr A. Walmsley) reported. Members had shown themselves able to respond to the demands made upon their musicianship in the modern musical idiom. They had obviously enjoyed the works and had sung them in a manner that fully demonstrated the great beauties and contrasts of the modern masterpieces. A special meed of praise was due to the orchestra of the first two concert’s. It was probably the finest the society had ever had. VOICE TEST IN 1942. Mr Robertson gave notice of a motion to be put forward at the next annual meeting that the rules be altered to permit of a five-yearly voice test, the first to be held in 1942. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Office-bearers for the ensuing year were elected as follow;—Patron, Hon. W. Downie Stewart; president, Mr A. Fels; vice-presidents—Sir Percy Sargood, Dr V. E. Galway, Professor T. D. Adams, Alesdames W, Evans and R. Hudson, Messrs A. Begg, W. R. Brugb, J. G. Butler, R. Hudson,' W. H. Mackenzie. W. Logie, J. Sutherland Ross, H. Renfree, T. S. Searle, G. Stuart Thomson, and J. M'Gregor Wilkie; conductor, Mr A. Walmsley; deputy-con-ductor, Mr L. S. Adam; pianist, Miss Mavis Alacdonald; librarian, Air G. Ferguson; hon. auditor. Air D. Leslie; hon. solicitor, Air W. R. Brugh; lion, treasurer, Air F. S. Salinger; committee —Alessrs 0. F. Watson, L. S. Adam, J. Phillips, and G. Ross, and Miss G. B. Clarke.