MUSICAL COMPETITIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 August 1925, Page 4

MUSICAL COMPETITIONS.

WORK COMMENCED TO-DAY.*

AN INTERESTING MORNING. Ten o’clock to-day saw a keen and somewhat anxious body of young people gathered in the x>recincts of the Opera .House in readiness for the opening classes of the competitions festival in Hawera. Arrangements were prac-p ticaliy complete under the direction of the energetic hon. secretary (Mr H. E. Cressey), the jjresident and committee of the' Male Choir, and shortly after 10 o’clock the judges were seated at their table in the dress circle ready for the first competitors. The arrangements made for announcing the competitors to the audience were complete, the class' and competitor number being prominently displayed on the stage so .that the audience —and even at that early hour there were quite a number present—could see exactly who was competing. Everything went off without a hitch. It is worth special mention that. the classes were completed light, on time, a tribute to the work of the committee. The admission, too, is extremely reasonable. Adults may secure tickets for the season, 12 sessions for 8s ; and children eight day sessions for 2s 6d. Mr F. W. Horner, chairman of the committee, expressed gratification at the good attendance, and drew attention to the interesting programme provided, especially where classes were own selection. He said the evening session would be of special interest because it included all recalls.

The judge of elocution is Mr A. Stanley Warwick (Wellington), and of musical events Mr J. Holmes Runniclea (Palmerston North). Both expressed great satisfaction with the arrangements, made. Miss D. Joll is the official aceompaniste. This morning was devoted to recitations (hoys and girls) and violin eolo for children under 14 years. The results were as below: Recitation (boys under 15); selection, “What might be done” (Mackey).—Recalls : .Desmond Riley, Herman Payne. Highlv commended: Geo. McGlashan and Ken Smith. Recitation in character (boy or girl under 10 years) : ; .own selection.—Recalls: Olga Laidlaw and Mary Sunderland. Violin solo (under 14 yearsV: set nieces. “Valse in G” and “Piddle and T.”—Recalls: Kenneth Gould, Doris Hawkins and Jas. Molonev.

GROWTH TN CITIES.

COMMENTS BY HAWERA JUDGES.

The growth 0 f the musical competitions in most of the big centres is remarkable. and was : commented on by fhe judges at Hawera, Mr Eunnicles and Air. Warwick. They have both had a good deal of experience at- such festivals. and Mr Warwick goes shortly to Rallarat. to act as judge of elocution there. He says that Ballarat, is and: always has been a great centre for competitions. Entries are very large each year,hut this year the band and instrumental sections' are not so good! as usual. /The reputation of the great Malvern Tramways Band and their fine solo players' appears to have scared off numbers of likely competitors. i ’

Air Runhicles.is very complimentary to the work of the committee running the Hawera competitions, and considers it is to be congratulated on the success achieved. He considers the very satisfactory entries an index of the artistic life of the district.. He was amazed to find amongst other striking features the very large entry in band instrumental solos.

Both tlite: judges look forward to an. interesting ; and certainly very busy time during the next few days.