GREY EISTEDDFOD

Grey River Argus, 17 August 1937, Page 3

GREY EISTEDDFOD

Official Opening 30TH. ANNUAL FESTIVAL. The 30th. annual festival of the Greymouth Eisteddfod was officially opened last evening at the Town Hall, when the Deputy Mayor, Mr. A. H. McKane, in the absence of the Mayor, Mr. W. Meldrum, for whom he apologised, presided. There was a very appreciative audience and the 1937 festival gives promise of being every bit as successful as its predecessors.

On the stage with the Deputy Mayor were: Miss Edna Agnew, Ashburton (Judge of Dancing), Mr. Claude Davies, Christchurch (Judge of Music), and Mr. Denys Cow, L.R.S.M. (Judge of Elocution); Mr. R. T. Bush, Secretary of the Society, and Miss Vonnie Millar, A.T.C.L., Official Accompaniste.

Mr. McKane said that it was a very pleasing duty for him to welcome the judges of the forthcoming festival. Mr. Denys Cow had judged here previously and was well known to all. Miss Agnew and Mr. Davies were new comers, and he hoped they would enjoy their first appearance in Greymouth. He extended a welcome io them all and hoped they would be given every assistance during their stay. The festival would continue for a week. The competitions have had a long and very interesting progress. When first founded, they were known as the Greymouth Competitions’ Society and now entering on their 30th. annual festival, the name had been changed to that of the Greymouth Eisteddfod. The competitors in numbers were a record. In some classes the entries had fallen a little, but this was made up in other sections, the entries in which exceeded all expectations. There was no need for him to stress the value of the competitions. They were a social amenity to the town and as such deserved the utmost support of parents and the public generally. He spoke of the excellent sportsmanship that had always prevailed at past festivals among competitors, previous judges remarking on the excellent spirit displayed. He was sure that it would still prevail and the relations between judges and competitors would be most happy. He would urge the audience not to disturb the competitors whilst they were on the stage, as coming out of the hall whilst an item was in progress was very distracting. He had much pleasure in declaring the 1937 Festival open. The Judges briefly acknowledged the welcome of Mr. McKane and hoped the Society would have a very successful festival. Mr. Bush said that he would make a departure from the usual procedure at the opening of the festival to mention just a few of the honours attained by the young people of Greymouth in the Royal Academy of Music, of which he was the representative, and the Trinity College of Music. It would take a good deal of time to go into a detailed list of the successes of the students but just a resume of the attainments would suffice to give some idea of the success attained by the young people of the town. Six years ago, Miss Mary Martin won a scholarship at the Royal College for two years, which, on account of the excellent progress she had made, was extended for two years more. In recent years, Miss Cecilia Keating had won a similar scholarship and reports excellent progress, and that the scholarship would be extended. She had been a successful competitor for years at the Competitions and all were watching her progress with the utmost interest. Other exhibitions won by local students were: Royal Academy Cash Exhibitions, £l5: Miss Kathleen Knell, Miss Mary Martin, Miss Cecilia Keating. £lO Exhibitions: Miss Tessie' McSherry and Miss Una Murray. Gold Medals:' Miss Ethel Wallace, Miss Cecilia Keating (three times), and Miss Rona Peillon. Silver Medals: Miss Ethel Wallace, Miss Mary Martni, Miss Tessie McSherry and Miss Una Murray. £5 Free Entrance: Miss Tessie McSherry and Miss Cecilia Keating. The above exhibitions were all won for violin playing, with the exception of Miss Kathleen Knell. Mr. Bush said it was a great pity that the people of Greymouth did not appreciate more the musical talent in their midst. It was to be deplored that such was the .case and it is to be hoped in the future more appreciation will be shown. The two young ladies to be presented with medals from the Royal School of Music were Misses Rona Peillon and Una Murray. Miss Murray had arrived from Timaru, where she is continuing her musical studies. He felt it was a great calamity when Sister Mary Anthony was taken from Greymouth and he wondered what was going to happen. However, the Sister who replaced her was very capable, and so far had achieved wonderful results in her work. Miss Rona Peillon and Miss Una Murray were then brought on to the platform and presented by Mr. McKane with the medals they had won. They were given an ovation by the audience. Mr. McKane congratulated them on the honours they had attained and extended best wishes for future success. Miss Murray then played a violin solo, "Romance” (Svendsven) and Miss Peillon played “Hungarian Dance No. 5” (Brahms). Misses Una and Mona Murray also played a violin duet, “Menuett” (Milandre). Miss Nancy Harrie, A.T.C.L., was the accompaniste.

The following are last evening’s awards:—

Song in Character, over 16 (final) —Mr W. H. Baird, “The Cobbler’s Song,” 78pts 1; Miss Eunice. Scott, “Pettie Marquise,” 74pts 2. The only competitors.

The judge, Mr Davies, said that the winner had a very good voice, though it was a little pinched. However, he did very well, his character being very effective. The second competitor’s costume was charming, but she did not get the daintiness out of the song as in the first song. She had a pleasing voice. Verse Speaking Choirs (final) — Miss M. Hannan’s Intermediate Choir “The Story of a Drum,” 78pts 1; Miss M. Hannan’s Senior Choir, “Tarantella,” 76pts 2; Miss M. . Hannan’s Junior Choir, “Sometimes,” 75pts 3. The judge, Mr Denys Cow, said he was a little disappointed in this class as it reached a very good standard last year, and this year’s choirs were not quite up to the standard he had heard here previously. The winning choir had made a good opening and had good rhythm and word colour. The judge said that a fault with all the choirs was that they had not faced the audience but looked to the side

of the stage. The facial expression was lost by so doing. Character Sketch, over 16 (final)— Miss Ida Ede (Ashburton) “Mrs Gamp” 97pts 1; Miss Ada Smeaton (Brunner) “Nancy” from Dickens, 93 pts, 2; Miss Eunice Scott, “The Awakening of Galatea,” 92pts 3. The judge said that this was a very small class. It was quite good, the winner being outstanding. The first sections of the Tap Dance (12 and over) and the Song Dance teams were seen last evening, and will be finalised when the other competitors are seen. To-day the Eisteddfod will be continued in the Town Hall and Trinity Hall, commencing at 9.30 a.m. .. A full programme has been set down and pati’ons are assured of first-class entertainment.