THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Star, Issue 23351, 22 August 1939, Page 8

THE COMPETITIONS

GIRLS' ELOCUTION SCHOLARSHIP MISS KATHLEEN ALLAN WINS QUICK STUDY CONTEST JUDGE DELIGHTED WITH HER PLAYING This morning the thirty-eighth annual festival of the Dunedin Competitions Society entered upon the sixth day. Interest was displayed in the test selection in the elocution scholarship for girls, 12 and under 16, heard in the Victoria Hall. There were 16 candidates in the_ section. The own selection section will be heard to-mor-row morning, when recalls will be announced, these to reappear to-morrow night in His Majesty’s Theatre. In the Concert Chamber the quick study piano class was held. In this class the adjudicator (Mr Paul Schramm) ' gave the competitors the test piece —‘ Valse ’ from the ‘ Water Mirror,’ by James Lyon—on Saturday. They had from then until to-day ,to familiarise themselves with it. The section was small, there being five competitors, and the winner was Miss Kathleen Allen. Her playing drew considerable praise from the judge, and he awarded lier 98 points*. th© _ highest marks awarded in the competitions for, it is believed, two festivals.^ Two other classes were judged outright this morning, recalls being announced in the remainder of the sessions. Results:— INSTRUMENTAL. Judge: Mr Paul Schramm. PIANO DUET, under 12, ‘ Swing Tune ’ and ‘ Idyll ’ (Eric Mareo). Lorna M’Donald and Lois Kilgour (Oamaru), 80 points ... ... 1 Betty Sheppard and Nola Bowie, 79 points 2 Marie North (Palmerston) and Leslie Cowan (Palmerston), 78 points 3 Highly commended: Irwin Main and Rendall Miller. Also competed: Daphne Carruthers, Doris Weaver; Zelma Enting, Pauline Young (Timaru); Marjorie Campbell. June Angelo (Balclutha); Raymond Thurston, Meryl Lemiu; Joan Johnston, Rita Fried!ander; Alice Luke, Beverley Fahey. There was a high standard shown in this class, said Mr Schramm, and all his markings were high. He thought these young people had very good teachers. The winners’ tempo was disposed to be racy, but they played agreeably and with real skill. QUICK STUDY PIANO CLASS, Open. Mith Kathleen Allan, 98 points ... 1 Mr Rai M'Nicoll, 78 points _ 2 Miss Margaret Boult, 77 points ... 3 Also competed: Mr William Clarke, Miss Joan Owens (Christchurch). _ Mr Schramm expressed exceedingly great pleasure over this class. ,A particularly splendid performance was given all round, and he congratulated the competitors on the way they had mastered the piece. The winner played with the greatest charm, her performance being one of the most delightful he had heard for a long time. “I am so pleased,” he said, “ that I give her the highest marks I have given this festival.” PIANO SOLO, Own Selection. —Two recalls were made from an entry of 10 candidates, these being Mr William Clark and Miss Claire Neale. ELOCUTION. Judge: Mr Rupert Harvey. RECITATION, boys, 12 and under 16, own selection (hot humorous). Patrick Murray, 81 points ... 1 Bryce Smith, 80 points 2 Alan M'lntosh, 78 points 3 Also competed; Gregg Anderson, John Calder, Len. Cadzow, 'Bernard Larsen, Owen Hymen (Gore). Ronald Calder, Bill Lysight, Irwin M’Gregor, Alan Hey, Jack Cain. “ This was rather a heartening class,” said JVIr Harvey; “the competitors shaped better than most whom-1 have adjudicated upon. For one thing there was a better quality of poem this morning. The general standard of speed was very good, but at the same time I do not think that more than a few attempted to analyse and paraphrase their poems before learning, and the result of failing to do so tends towards monotony in.presentation.” There was still apparent carelessness in speech, however, as well as swallowed consonants and imperfect vowel enunciation. Deportment generally was not so good as that displayed by the girls. DANCING. Judge: Miss Betty Carnochan. TAP DANCING, suitable for musical comedy, without apparatus, 10 to 14. First section.—There were 17 competitors in this class, and the following, to be placed to-night, were recalled: — Erin Reed and Jack Miller. DANCE DUO, other than dramatic, under 16.—Two recalls were announced from a class of 12, these being Nola and Marjorie Hall, Nancy and Norma Stewart. Final judging tomorrow night. EVENTS AHEAD. One of the best programmes of the festival will bo presented in His Majesty’s Theatre to-night, a highlight being the conclusion of the piano concerto contest. Interest will also be displayed in the judging of the children's action choruses, the last ot the series being given, when Miss Anita Winkel’s Juveniles will present ‘ Song of the Danube,’ Three entries have been received for the impromptu debate section, while an attractive selection of vocal, elocution, and instrumental items will be dispersed through the main subjects. , The second section of the girls’ elocution scholarship will be heard tomorrow in Victoria Hall,, and judging will be concluded at night. The scholarship for boys will begin in the same hall to-morrow. During the afternoon the test selection and own selections of the chief piano contest will be heard in the Concert Chamber. On Friday evening, interspersed, through an attractive programme, will be piano selections by Mr Paul Schramm. This same night the competition among the winners of tho various vocal test will be held, the prize being a rose bowl donated by Mr Philip Barling. On Saturday the festival will conclude with demonstration concerts in the afternoon and evening. The Dunedin Operatic-and Dramatic Society will present, in aid of the funds of the Competitions Society, a three-act play, 1 Without Witness,’ in His Majesty’s Theatre, on September 7,8, and 9. An excellent cast has been selected tor this play, and the box plans are now open 5t Messrs Charles Begg ail'd Co,