MUSICAL SUCCESSES

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 May 1927, Page 2

MUSICAL SUCCESSES

GRBYMOUTH PRESENTATIONS. Those interested in matters musical in Greymouth have good reason for pride in the number of distinctions won by local students of music. It may be said that in proportion to its size, Greymouth has for several years past held its own with the larger centres in the matter of its musical successes. The fact that in the larger cities the very highest teaching is available to pupils, makes the successes gained by local students at the examinations of the Asociated Board of the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music, London, and the Trinity College of Music, London, the more enhanced, and reflects only the highest credit on those to whom the.musical education of the rising generation in Greymouth is entrusted, as well as demonstrating the high quality of the talent possessed by the students themselves.

Yesterday afternoon a, function was held in St. Columba Hall, at which there was a very large attendance, the occasion being to ma’rk the successes of several of the Convent pupils in the persons of Misses Kathleen Knell (winner of the Associated Board’s exhibition of £l5, and the Licentiateship of the Trinity College), M. Warnes, L.T.C.L., B. Adkins, A.T.C.L., Moira McSherry, A.T.C.L. Before the presentations were made, a short musical programme was given, in which the work--of the performers was of a highly meritorious order. In the instrumental groups it was a noticeable feature that intonation was markedly good, breadth of tone was good. Even in the juvenile players these features were prominent, a good singing effect resulting. In the violin selection “Sympathy,” the syncopated passages were splendidly executed by the juveniles, led by the more advanced players. Miss K. Knell played a composition by Liszt, who is well known among musical people as a composer who wrote nothing easy to play, and his work “Waldesrauschen,” played by Miss Knell, was full of the intricacies for which Liszt was noted. Notwithstanding this, Miss Knell’s performance was full of merit, and was thoroughly enjoyed. The details of the programme were as follow :—lnstrumental selection, “Spring Breezes,” pupils ; violin duet, “Sweet Spirit, Hear my Prayer” (from Wallace’s “Maritana”). Misses Fletcher and Coburn ; vocal solo, “Wings” (D’Hardelot), Miss Adkins, recall “Melisande in the Wood’ - ; violin selection. “Sympathy” (waltz song from the comedy opera “The Firefly’ ) pupils; vocal solo. “Hush, My Little One” (Bevignani), Miss Warnes, recall “Magdalen at St. Michael’s Gatje” ; vocal duet, “Sfill as the Nigtlilt” (Carl Bohm), Misses Warnes and Adkins ; piano solo, “Waldesrauschen” (Liszt), Miss Kathleen Knell ; vocal trio, “Three Little Maids from School” (with chorus before and after, from Gilbert and Sullivan’s opera “The Mikado”), Misses Warnes, Adkins and Coburn and chorus girls, warmly applauded and repeated. At the conclusion of the musical pro gramme, Mr R. T. Bush, local representative of the Associated Board, presented Miss K. Knell with the £l5 exhibition won by her in the Local Centre Advanced Grade. In doing so, he stated that tlie Board offered two local'exhibitions annually, one for £l5 in the Advanced Grade, and another for £lO in the Intermediate Grade. These were offered with the idea of assisting promising students to attain to the higher grade, and paved the wav for further exhibitions which provided tuition in either the Royal Academy or Royal College in London for a period of not less than two years. These exhibitions were awarded on the recommendation of the examiners to candidates who showed exceptional musical promise. It was with some pride therefore that he had the pleasure of presenting one to a Greymouth young lady, whom the examiner had picked out from no less than one hundred and eleven, who were successful in passing the Advanced Grade examination last year, in the whole of the Dominion. Hardly a year had passed without Greymouth securing honours of this kind from one or other of the Boards which conducted musical examinations in New Zealand —the Associated and Trinity College. The regularity with which these awards was being made was a matter of congratulation not only to the examine? s themselves, but to their teachers and the public generally. The examiners for the Associated Board had commented on numerous occaon the high standard attained among the candidates in Greymouth, and had paid a special tribute to the teaching by the Sisters at the Convent orMercy, who had been responsible for the .tuition of a number of tlie other local teachers, who were among those who were also complimented by the examiners, and whose work showed good training and ability to pass that training on. In handing Miss Knell her exhibition, he congratulated her on her success and hoped she would continue her studies and be successful in gaining one of the bursaries which would take her to London. (Applause). Rev. Father Long said he would like to add his congratulations to Miss Knoll on her achievement. As Secretary of the Trinity College .London, he bad the pleasing duty of presenting the diplomas- won by Misses Knell, Warnes, Adkins and McSherry. He expressed his pleasure that so many were present at the function, which was a compliment to the successful candidates as well as to the Sisters, who were responsible for their teaching. He congratulated the young ladies on their success and remarked that it was good to notice the number of such honours that were being won in Greymouth. Music was being -recognised now far more than in the past. The Education Department had thought fit to place someone in charge of school music, and schools were now going in for their gramophones. Music was a great source of pleasure to mankind, and besides intensifying their joys also assuaged their griefs. While congratulating the pupils and teachers on the successes they were celebrating, he would also express recognition oj the part played by parents who were "responsible for their children’s practicing. " It was a maHer of co-operation in which, the teacher, pupil and parent were the partners. It was pleasing to note that the diplomas he was to present not only carried the hall mark so far as individual formance went, but also indicated the ability of the winners to impart their knowledge, which was a very much more important feature. He had pleasure in handing the diplomas to the

winners ,and offered each his personal congratulations. Mr Seddon, in returning thanks to the Sisters and the performers for their splendid programme, said that while he did not claim to be a. great musician, he claimed to have a love for music, and to be able to appreciate good music. He had had frequent. talks with the various examiners about the musical standards in Greymouth, and they invariably spoke in the highest terms of the ability of the candidates who came before them. They also spoke in highest terms of the tuition provided by teachers in Greymouth, and he knew that they were always anxious to have Greymouth .included in their itinerary, as they all looked on the town as one of the “bright spots” musically. He knew he was voicing the high appreciation of all those who had been privileged to enjoy the afternoon programme, and on their behalf, he expressed a hearty vote of thanks to the Sisters and performers, and asked that it be carried by acclamation, which was ascordingly done.