BID FOR RECOGNITION

Evening Star, Issue 26000, 15 January 1947, Page 6

BID FOR RECOGNITION

YOUNG DOMINION MUSICIANS

Of considerable interest in the musical world of .the Dominion is the present tour of the country by four accomplished young. New Zealand musicians.' All of 18 years of age, the artists are Miss Renais Gage, mezzosoprano, from Hawke’s Bay; Raymond Windsor, pianist, Wellington; Wilfred Simenauer, violoncellist, Dunedin; and John Matheson, piano accompanist, Dunedin. The second accompanist is Miss B. McHutchons, of Hastings, who is Miss Gage’s singing teacher. Mr Robert Jensen, who organised the party and arranged the tour, is travelling with the musicians. When New Zealand artists became known in their own country, said Mr Jensen, they received the public support they deserved, but there was great difficulty in first gaining public appreciation. The purpose of the tour was to achieve this. Remarking that it was often asked why New Zealand

artists were not encouraged, Mr Jensen mentioned Alexander Grant, of the Sadlers Wells Ballet Company, Bebe de Witts, who has also achieved renown abroad as*a ballet dancer; Alan Loveday, who has played the violin with the 8.8. C. Symphony Orchestra; and Junior Farrell, well-known pianist, who is at prsent in Europe. All of these artists had left New Zealand as soon as they could, arid had not considered returning. Miss Gage made her debut on the stage at the age of five, and a year later she gained six firsts at the Wellington Competitions. When Lawrence Tibbett was in New Zealand he greatly admired her voice, and predicted a future for her. Raymond Windsor had gained' success in competitions in .Wellington and Dunedin, receiving a gold cup- for a record number of firsts Wilfred Simenauer’s playing of the ‘cello was well known in Dunedin, and his accompanist, John Matheson, was a pianist of promise who had completed stage I. for his bachelor of music degree while at high school. Miss McHutchons was associated with the Heretaunga Maori Choir which toured Australia in 1938. The tour of these young musicians began with a concert at Invercargill on Monday night and with a recital from 4YA last evening. It will be continued with "a concert in Dunedin to-night and cohcerts at Christchurch, 'Blenheim, and Nelson before their North Island itinerary begins.