THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Star, Issue 22956, 13 May 1938, Page 8

THE COMPETITIONS

INCREASED SCOPE PROMISED THREE JUDGES APPOINTED This year’s festival of the Dunedin Competitions Society promises to more than maintain the interest of performers and the public by reason of the unusually attractive programme that is to he offered. Three new sections will be added, and in themselves should be particularly attractive. One of these will be a piano concerto for two pianos. Messrs Collard and Collard, of London, have presented a handsome cup for this contest, and the -winners, in addition to holding the trophy, will receive substantial cash prizes. Another innovation will be the ladies’ choir contest, which, in view of the widespread interest in choral work in this city, should be welcomed. The third new section will be a verse-speaking choir for competitors under 18 years of age. It will be recalled that last year’s elocutionary judge, Airs Zoo Bartley-Bax-ter, suggested that such a section be considered by the committee. Some of the remaining principal items will be: Grand opera aria contest, which was won last year by Air If. 6. Taplin (Air Taplin is now in London, where he is likely to make a name for himself); Gilbert and Sullivan solo contest, with its evergreen appeal to old and young alike; the chief piano solo contest for the Aloiler trophy (silver grand piano) and substantial cash prizes; firms’ choir contest. for which there promise to be good entries; and the secondary schoolgirls’ choir contest, w'hich has always proved a most interesting item, and has always drawn the highest approbation from the judges for the good work done by the competing choirs.

The society is to he congratulated on the fact that it has secured two judges from the Trinity College of Music, London, for the instrumental and vocal music. They are men of the highest training and culture, whose decisions may he relied upon. Dr Ford will act in the instrumental sections, and Dr Lyon in the vocal sections. For the elocutionary items, Mr W. J, Bailey, of Auckland, who. made an excellent impression when he acted in this capacity three years ago, has again been appointed. The judge of the dancing sections has not yet been selected, but a decision will shortly be made, and as there are a large number of applicants with the highest credentials it is certain that whoever is finally chosen will prove acceptable to competitors and public alike. From inquiries made of the secretary, even at this- early date, it is apparent that the competitions will draw a large number of entries, and there is every indication that the session will be a memorable one.