HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 7 November 1935, Page 9

HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT

PAST AND PRESENT PUPILS WELL-BALANCED PROGRAMME •PRESENTATION AT HAWERA

St. Mary’s Hall, Hawera, was filled to capacity last night lot- the concert presented by past and present pupils of the Hawera Technical High School. Arranged by Miss Joyce Dix and held under the auspices of the school parents’ association, the concert embraced a wide variety of numbers, each of which was well received by an appreciative audience. The numbers were of high standard and reflected great credit on Miss Dix and other Hawera music, elocution and dancing teachers, who co-operated in the programme. At the conclusion of tlie concert, Mr E. Kirk by, president of the parents’ association, extended thanks to Miss Dix, Hawera teachers, Mr J. ,ash, principal of the school, and staff for the assistance and co-opera-tion given in staging the concert. He also referred to the artists and expressed the association’s appreciation of their services.

The programme opened with two numbers presented by the school orchestra under the baton of Miss Dix “Marche Militaire” (Schubert) and “Paradise of the North,” each of which showed a good balance and evidence of thorough training. “Rosalind and Celia,’’ from “As You Like It,” a dialogue in costume by Miss Y. Cello and Dawn Jackson earned wellmerited applause, as also did a song, “Three Green Bonnets,” by Olga Fox. Two folk dances —“Old .Mole” and “Jenny Pluck Pears”—were daintily performed by two sets of girls and these were followed by a pianoforte duet, two “Hungarian Dances’ (Brahms), by L. and V. Henderson, who showed good understanding anc technique. A song, “Fairy Lullaby,” was sung by Miss A. McLaren, who also presented “Cinderella’s Fella,” a song and tap dance, in spirited fashion. A further song, “Singling to You,” was rendered by Frances Wills, and this was followed by the senn triubhas, danced by Edna Gane. Char mian Barrow displayed an outstanding technique in her pianoforte solo, “Fantasia in C Sharp Minor” (Che pin). A feature of the program me were three numbers, “Blow, Wind, Blow,’ “Sea Lullaby” and “Wher’er You Walk,” presented by the school choir, which was conducted by Miss Dix. The voices blended well in each number, and the singing well bore out the remorks of the judge at the last Hawera, Competitions . that the choir was capable of an “excellent performance.” This bracket was probably one of the most popular of the evening.

“Villia,” from the “Merry Widow,” was sung by Miss A. Kemp, while a recitation in costume, “Madame MakeBelieve,” transported the audience in. to a period of crinolines, the artist, Maetel Overton, securing just the correct atmosphere. A violin solo, “Canzonetta,” by Ruth Harley, and a pianoforte solo, “Waltz” (Durand), by Joyce Durham, showed a good mastery of the instruments. A humorous recitation by Miss El. Kelsen proved popular, and in the violin solo, “Humoresque,” Mr A. Sargeson was heard to advantage. The main section of the programme concluded with an Irish iig danced by Stewart Nairn, and a double quai-tette of girls, who sang “O Peaceful Night’’ with fine expression.

The concluding portion of the programme was devoted to a presentation iii costume of Act I. of “Quality Street,” by Sir Janies Barrie. Well acted and with its various situations exploited to the full, the play haul ft he following cast: Phoebe Throssel, Peggy Hay-Mackenzio; Susan Throssel, Norma Thomas; Valentine Brown, Joan Harding; Patty (a servant), Jean Stevenson; Fanny Willoughby, Audrey Stewart; Mary Willoughby, Barbara Thomson; recruiting sergeant, Joyce Knightbridge. Preliminary remarks to tlie play were read by Frances Wills. The accompanists for the various musical items were Misses C. Reilly, D. Nairn, Dix, F. Wills, J. E-ggle-stone and Mrs A. Bonetti, while Stewart Nairn piped an accompaniment for a national dance. Jocelyn Evans and D. Kirkby played the accompaniments for the choir items.