HAWERA COMPETITIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 August 1924, Page 4

HAWERA COMPETITIONS.

EXCELLENT WORK. /

GREAT ENTHUSIASAI

The keen interest taken by the performers and the public which has marked- the whole of the two days’ competitions continued right to the end of the second evening’s programme. The Opera House was quite full last night, and much enthusiasm and appreciation was shown throughout. The morning and afternoon were taken up with the sorting out of the best, and the evening was largely occupied with the recalls of the pick of the various sections. It was therefore specially interesting, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Much of the work of the competitors was very good, and in the case of a number of the younger performers showed very considerable promise, which was appreciated by the judges and made the subject of their favourable comment. Both said that in many events they had considerable difficulty 111 ®®P ara^ln S the winning contestants. the success of the whole competitions will be cause for much satisfaction to the Male Choir, under whose auspices and direction they were run and especially to the chairman (Mr f! t ' Corner), the hon. secretary (Mr J. Al. Glasson), and the other members of the committee (Messrs J. W. Velvin and H. E. Cressey). AH were indefatigable in their endeavours in promoting the success that was achiev- _ • -A-U are entitled to the greatest credit. It is worthy of note that the time given for preliminary work had been comparatively short. That the arrangements were so well made is “alter for great satisfaction to all. Ihe work of the official accompaniste, Aliss D. Joll, was very fitly recognised. To her the committee owe a great deal, and the competitors also tor the help given by her -excellent work and the keen interest she took in all. At the interval a very handsome bouquet was presented to" her by Mr E. Dixon, on behalf of the choir and competitors, as a slight evidence of their appreciation. At the conclusion of the competitions the judges’ remarks were delivered.

Mr Hutchens said that the worst feature had been the diction. He did not know why singers did not pay more attention to the words. Unless a singer delivered the message the vocal effort was largely wasted. There was a story ™ svery piece of music, and singers should aim at producing the purest possible vowel sounds.

Touching on the work in the various classes, Mr Hutchens said • that in class 4 (girl’s song under 18) bad vowel sounds were very common. There were some promising voices—some promised a, lot, but did not come out because the singers did not open their mouths. In that class he had the greatest difficulty in giving his decision. Aliss Thylhs Grindrod was much better in the evening than she was during the day session, and Miss Alice Stevenson had done better during the afternoon than the evening. In class 9 (soprano solo, open) Miss Stevenson improved upon her earlier performance. .Aliss _V. York was just a little restrained in style. Speaking on the general work in class 9, Mr Hutchens again said that he wished competitors would think more about what they were singing. One young lady had lent him her song, and instructions stated that it was to he sung gaily. That was not ' done. In the recalls a young ladv who had done splendidly during the afternoon was unfortunate in leaving . out a few. bars in her song during the evening session.

In class 5 (boy’s song under 14), the general faults were failing to open the mouth and lack of imagination. The word “little” had very rarely been sung correctly.

The result of the tenor, class was another instance of the best voice not winning through a lapse of memory. One or two .competitors had not sung nearly as well that night as during 'the day.

In the ‘baritone or bass class the quality of the voices was good. One gentleman in this class retired through a lapse of memory. the piano solo class, in which there wer only four competitors. Mr. Hutchins said that the work was somewhat disappointing. The competitors. had not seemed to have mastered the intricacies of the work; it was rather a strain. The winner in that section was easily first. i r ' ,£■ -F- A mess said that in c 1 VL (rotation, not humorous, under 18) there were some very good candidates who were difficult to senarate_. Miss Sybil Pratt deserved her win because of the way in which she managed the mechanical' part of her voice and because of her slightly better interpretation. Miss Alice Stevenson s contribution was artistic, but a trifle monotonous. Miss Mavis Burrows, who came third, was a very promising candidate, hut one who required to learn the value of restraint. In class 19 (gentlemen’s test rental) he thought the work disappoint-, ng. It was quite a medium class in point of view of numbers and quality of work. It was rather striking that the cksses for adults were not so good as those for. children. Sufficient value wa.s not given to pausing. A o-reat deal of effect could be obtained in"this way.

I? (,a^ ies ’ tGst recital) was much better than the men's The winner gave unite a good rendering, n b t nT ml was ,lot fa r behind. Class 21 (humorous recitation, o-entle-men) was a scratch event. It was lumorous. but the section required a little more artistic, effect T » conclusion Mr. Amess said that the children’s classes were very well a V d the Ua,it r of the uoik very good.

SECOND I DAY’S RESULTS. The awards made were as follow: Piano solo, under .14.—Thelma Jones (Manaia) 1, Mabel Guy (Matapu) 2. lour competed. G j sn unf * or 18. own selection. o""*i • ■ Grl,l drod 1, Alice Stevenson 2, Alaisie Patten 3. Ten competed. Keoitntion (not humorous), under 18 years own selection.—Sybil Pratt 1, Alice Stevenson 2, Mavis Borrows 3 Eleven competed. Boys’ song, under 14, own selecV Ol Jh Brett (Wawera) 1, Freddie Rodie (Hawera) and Douglas Jones (Ha.wera) equal 2. Four competed. Soprano solo (open), own selection r A lf,^r e " SO ," Gert '»de Herbert 2 Ethd Murdoch 3. Twelve competed. lest recital (men), “Marc Antony’s Oration over the Body of Julius Caesar —H.. W. Jackson (Tawhiti) 1, T. B Freyne (Hawera) 2. The only competitors.

Tenor solo (open), own selection.— D. B. McDonald 1, E. Jones 2 Four competed.

Baritone or bass solo (open), own selection.—O. J. McFadyen 1. L. Lieen 2. Five competed. Boys’ song (under 14).-Freddie Rodie and Douglas Jones having tied tor second place, repeated their performances and again were declared

equal. The judge announced that he was so pleased with the work that he had given another second prize. Test recital (ladies), “Portia’s Speech on Alercy.”—-Miss Lucy Carroll 1, Airs. E. Robb 2. Three competed. Humorous recitation. —R. Vivian 1, H. W. Jackson 2. Only one of the competitors in the last event was present, and at short notice Alessrs. H. W. Jackson and R. S. Richards entered to make the competition. All the items were thoroughly enjoyed. WELLINGTON RESULTS. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 26. Following were the results of today’s competitions:—i Toe dance (9 to 12).—Muriel Wil(Wellington) 1, Haeel Martin (Wellington) 2, Jeane Coker (Wellington) 3. ■ • Navy League recitation.—Qirls Madge (Yates) (Dunedin) 1, Kathleen Chappie (Christchurch) 2, Sinclair Breen (Wellington) 3. Boys: Bert Goodland (Christchurch) 1, George Power (Wellington) 2, Headley Aiken )W e J“ n St° n ) and Lowrence Searle (Wellington) 3. Song, in character (9 to 12).—Kathleen Chappie (Christchurch) 1, E. Penhallurick (Christchurch) 2, Gladys Smith (Wellington) 3. Girls’ eong (12 to 14).—Eunice Standmi (Welhngton) l, Alice Chapman (Christchurch) 2, Dulcie Orme (Rona Bay) 3.

junior test recital (girls under 12). Esme Evans (Christchurch) l, E. lenhallunck (Christchurch) 2, Jeane Coker (Wellington) 3. song (12 to 16).-Billy Cooley (Wellington) 1, Lawrence Searle ‘Wellington) 2, John Lyons (Wellington)

nvn- ies l le citation.—Huia Doherty i 1 ’ Madeline Lowry (Otaki) 2, Esther Jackson (Rona Bay)

Tenor solo.-Edgar Swain (Wellings Wdlmm Saunders (Lower Hutt) and M. Wiseman (Wellington)

Reading at sight (girls under 16). " lllds oj( Wellington) 80, 1; rww I ?** i ll jl rme ) aild Winifred Grosbet (Auckland) 79, 2.