HAWERA COMPETITIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 August 1924, Page 5

HAWERA COMPETITIONS.

MUSICAL AND ELOCUTIONARY

INTERESTING WORK. The popularity of t-lie competitions which the Male Voice Choir initiated three years ago has been amply evidnced by the continued increasiug response to the programme of events. This was enlarged this year, with the result that the number of competitos was so increased as to necessitate two full days to cope with the work of judging. The choir must feel more than satisfied with the results, and are entitled to great commendation on their enterprise in the world of musical and elocutionary art. Arrangements, complete in every detail, were made by the hon. secretary (Mr. F. W. Glasson), the .chairman (Mr. F. "VY. Horner) and the members of the competitions committee. The result was that everything went without a hitch and all events were carried through with the utmost possible expedition.

. The society were fortunate in having as olficial accompaniste Mies D. Joll, whose work in playing for such a varied company of all classes of song, showed the utmost care and great artistic ability. It must have been very helpful to the competitors, and certainly was a great value to the competitions committee.

The judges—Messrs. Will Hutchens (musical) and A. H. R. Ame«s (elocutionary)—were prompt in making their decisions and no unnecessary delay was thereby occasioned.

At the evening session the Mayor (Mr. L. A. Bone), in response to a special request, made a short but very helpful and encouraging speech commending the work of the committee. He said he had again to congratulate the committee on the success of the competitions, which he felt sure, would be made an annual function. The competitions were of deeply educational value to all, not alone to the competitors, and served to bring to them thoughts of the great musicians writers and authors. This would make people think and read, and in that would be much of the educational value. It was the great incentive to excel and to be brought to do one’s best- although, perha>ps one did not like being judged, that created the spirit which made for progress and enterprise in many directions. Education in art of every kind was good and had an excellent influence If the competitions did this alone tliev would do great good. Practice in singing, in playing, and in oratory made the artists develop to the utmost, and these abilities should be i , f°v the bei,efit of others. One bl’fw -f hVG a° as fo make the world better for others. Contestants should not look to the prize, but consider that they were successful if they helped' They should uoik foi the sake of school, of town ° l m , dlst, : , 1 ct - Ho hoped Hawera. would be able jto send competitors to similar meetings in other places. These competitions created a higher ideal of soda?'L' mpn T d i*!* 1 conditions anil i , Hi their good work be wished the Male Choir all success a, d be elt * ure that the people would Sup port them and that if they Sd more.pr lzes ln -. fche future thJse woMd be forthcoming. The ~ were good for the citizeim/^Gm Aitei^the^onehi^foi^'of^the^^aie

•„4 f i ei judging was completed, the made d}’ 'remarks on the woik done. Mr Amess, congratulating human" 11111 ® C ° mpetitors ’ saicl that the human voice was one of the greatest instruments, and behind it was the human brain, more wnnderfnl s ti 1 StinmW Te , d 5 a 11,6 'or do! cutiomsts to be very careful to pronounce vowels correctly, and to emphasise the consonants. He said that m using words competitors should try suggest the meaning in those words by tiie expression. Generally speaking he said, the work cf the competS ?bil very good and quite creditable to the town and to the people. All Hutchens also stressed the need ot caretul enunciation, and of avoiding mispronunciations. He said he was ve,ry pleased indeed to be here again and hoped that next year entric-s would so increase that they would need to have four days instead of two. He said there had been a good deal ol musical ability and in many eases quite a lot of temperament. Tin's had made quite a lot of interest tor listeners. Coining to the sections, he said that it was difficult to judge in the class for boys under eighteen because some had boys and some lmd men’s voices. He considered the winner had given a very musical rendering. In tne class for girls under 14 lie would suggest that _ competitors be given advice in selection, because some had been quite unsuitable, and one or two utter rubbish. In the children’s chorus there had been a general weakness in the altos. Conductors had taken, various ideas .of tlio correct tempo, and while the winners were somewhat fast they had given a sparkling interpretation of the work selected. In class 10, contralto solo, the standard had been good throughout, and the winner had been very successful in her Italian diction. He would suggest that the choice of selection iii the class for pianists under 18 years needed supervision, and said the winner had shown surprisingly good execution, and had- put a great deal into her rendering of a work that was modern in type and left a lot to the imagination of the performer. The winners in the male quartettes were quite good, and he had hoped very much to hear more of this interesting style of work. The results of the afternoon and evening were as follow \

Children’s Choir Contest, under 14 years, “By Valley and Forest” (Blaughine). —Hawera School 1, Manaia School 2. Children’s Choir Contest, under-18 years, “Hail, Smiling Morn” (Spofforth)—Stratford' Technical High School 1, Manaia School No. 3 2.

Contralto Solo (open), own selection. —Miss Olive Grindrod 1, Mrs T. Sunderland 2. It is worthy of note that the Stratford Technical School Girls’ Choir bad decided to go home by train, but a request was made that they repeat their selection in the evening, and rather than disappoint the audience they used their prize \£3 3s) to -secure a car t% take them to Stratford later in the evening.

RESULTS. Humorous recitation in character, under IS years.-—Mavis Burrows (Eltliain) 1, Alice Stevenson (Hawera) 2. Five competed. . Son K> girls under 14 ‘(recalls).—Marcia Sunderland (Hawera) 1, Betty Tonks (Hawera) 2.

Children’s choirs, under 14 (recalls). —Hawera Main School 1 and competition banner, Manaia. School No. 2 2. Children’s choirs, under 18.—The Stratford Technical High School repeated their piece and received a competition banner. Recitation, not humorous, under 14 (recalls). —Mavis Tapp 1, Patricia Ekdalil 2. Piano solo, under 18.—Leah Haughton (Hawera) was the only competitor and received first- prize. Impromptu speeches.—R.. Richards (Hawera) 1, H. W. Jackson (Hawera)* 2. Three competed. Humorous recitation, ladies —Mrs Bn' 011 (Hawera) 1, Miss C. Robb (Hawera) 2. Male quartette.—Messrs. Jones, Strange, Liddington and Herbert 1, Messrs. Lay, McDonald. Green and Eade 2.

AWARDS AT WELLINGTON. (BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) . . A Li/LING TON, August 25. j S ° to-mght’s events at- the \\ ellingtou competitions were:—— Character Dance (9 and under 12). — Mmama Hekta I, Phyllis.Linklatar 2, n■ i f* ia i V All from Wellington. Ciuluren s Chorus (primary schools). Lentral School (Palmerston North) 1, -i>i i Central (Palmerston North) 2 Doys Normal School (Thorndon) 8 ’ Recitation (girls, 9 to 12).—First section: Jean Coker (Wellington) 1, Esme Evans (Christchurch) 2. Second section: Queenie McLean (Wellington) 1, Ins lonks (Wellington) 2. • C • Girls’ Song (12 to 14).-C. -Baskitts (Heretannga) 1, Eileen Searle (Wellington) 2, Edna Purtlie (Wellington) o*

Recital, with accompaniment (lady or gentleman, under 21).—Mavis Halit: day (Wellington) 1, Anita YVinkel (Dunedin) _, M. Smith (Eastbourne) , o»

Boy’S Song (12 to 16).—Ronald Foster (Christchurch) I, Billy Cooley (Wellington) 2. Wallis Browne (Wellington)

Scottish Song (soprano or mezza).-*-Gvyen Chayton (Wellington) 1 J Pelcia. Philpott (Christchurch) 2, ,Jeanet‘te Briggs OVelhngton) 3. Recitation (gentlemen).— Charles Chapman (Wellington) 1, Leslie Anderson (Wellington) 2, Barton Ginger (Lower Hutt) 3. Baritone or Bass Solo.—R, Martinaale (Khandallah) 1, F. East (Wellington) 2, George Neel (Wellington) 3. liano Solo (reading at sight).— b reda Cameron (Turakina) 1, Una Castle (Wellington) 2, Ernest Brown (Lower Hutt) 3.