COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 18 July 1929, Page 6

COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL

i . j TWO NTGTTT REASON AT ELTHAAT 1 SUCCESSFUL OPENING. The second annual festival of the Eltham Competitions Society opened in the Elthani Town ITall yesterday afternoon before a large and appreciative I audience. Five classes were staged during the afternoon session and ten 1 were taken in the - evening. The executive is to be commended for the completeness of detail and expeditious control which marked every feature of the programme. Tedious or dreary waits were non-existent and everything went witn s-. swing. The officials responsible for this happy state of affairs were: President, Dr. D. 11. Saunders; vicepresidents, Alessrs 1. J. Bridger and R. E. Thomas; committee, Alcsdames 11. 11. Alarchant, R. L. Garden, Alisses Wilson and Kelly, Alessrs F. Silver, A. Hargreaves, 11. 11. Alarchant, L. A. Percival, C. V. Smith and A. 11. Turner; secretary. Air W. J. A. Farnell; assistant secretary, .Mr E. L. Egarr.

The adjudicator for vocal and instrumental music was Air Ernest .Tenner, R.A.M., lecturer in music at the Wellington Training -College, who expressed his satisfaction of the status attained by the society in the second year of' its existence. The standard o-f music chosen and interest evinced in the competitions generally, lie said, was very promising. Every effort should be made to never lower the standard so far attained and he was sure that if the interest now displayed were maintained, really good results were bound to follow. The school children should be encouraged to cutivatc a sensitiveness to purity of tone -and a keen appreciation of precision.

AFTERNOON SESSION. The afternoon was devoted to 1 pianoforte solos, folk dancing ail'd drills, the results being: —■_ Pianoforte solo, grade A; (-a) tost piece, “ Padercwiski ’,s Alinuof in C”. —Miss T. Jones (91 per cent of marks) 1 ; Aliss E. Alills (80 per cent.), 2; Aliss AI. Gower (71 -per -cent), 3. (b) Sight reading (maximum marks, 50). —Aliss AL Alackie (42), 1; Aliss R. Alills (3G), 2: Aliss T. Jones (34), 3. Aggregate in combined sections.—Aliss T. Jones (1251 1; Aliss R. Alills (116), 2; Aliss M. Alackie (112), 3. Alusical drill.—Alangatoki School (girls) 1: Eltham S’chool (girls and boys) also competed. Follt -Ctancing —Eltham, Alanaia, Alangatoki Schools No. 1, Eltham Convent and Te'Roti Schools Nos. 1 and 2 competed. Alangatoki, To Roti No. 1 -and Eltham Convent Nos. 1 and' 2 gained recalls for the evening. The awards, however, will not be made until tonight, after a similar procedure has been followed by seven other squads from the same schools. Swedish drills, girls. —Eltham -School ], Alanaia School 2. Lincoln Road School also competed. EVENING SESSION. There was an excellent attendance at the evening session, when the festival was officially opened by the Alayor of Eltham (Air I. .1. Bridger). The results were:—

Swedish drill, boys.—Alanaia School (44 points), 1; Eltham School (42), 2; Lincoln Road School (41), 3. Sacred solo, own selection, women. — Aliss Alassey .1, Aliss Cocker 2. Alisses I-lerivel, AlcCullough, V. Astbury and Airs Symmans also competed. The ‘adjudicator remarked that there was a tendency among trained singers to choose selections which displayed themselves rather than -furnishing an interpretation of sacred musk; sincerity in art should have preference to personal display. Some of the competitors were rather operatic in style. Sight reading of accompaniments.— Aliss AL Alackie 3, Aliss T. Jones 2. Other competitors were Misses 11. Willox, V. Beech and T. Alaxwell. Aliss Alackie, an excellent sight readier, gained most points in -catching the mood and need of the singer. Air Jenner recommended eye training to some of the contestants.

Solo, own -acieoinpanimont, own selection. —Airs Symnians, flu; only entrant, was awarded a first prize. The .judge regretted that there .were not more entries in tliis extremely useful branch of training. Unfortunately, he said, too many singers cannot help themselves at the piano. Traditional song, own selection, men.

—Air F. E. Silver -(*‘Philadelphia, ”) 1; Alessrs G. Diver (“Annie Laurie”) and 11. Reynolds also sang. Air Jenner observed that traditional songs should be shorn of frills and artificial additions.

Ballad, own selection, women.—Mrs McCullough (7S points) 1; Miss Massey (77), 2; Miss 'O’Doa and Mrs Symmans (70), equal, 3. Other competitors, Misses Hcrivel, Cocker, N. Ashbury, and Mrs Harper. Judging of this 'class was difficult. There was nothing outstanding in any contribution and though the choice was good the general effect was that of dullness. Duet, own selection.—Misses Cocker j and N. Astbury 1, Mesdames Marchant and Symmans 2. The order would have been reversed but for .blunders in time.

Brass quartette, own selection. —Eltham Band No. 1 (Messrs Libian, Slater, Egarr and Andrews), 1. Eltham Band No. 2 also competed. The judge said he would prefer a selection with a climax. The playing of No. 2 was well blended, while that of the winners whs inclined to harshness.