The Hutt News Wednesday, October 9, 1946 MUSIC BY CHILDREN

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 19, 9 October 1946, Page 7

The Hutt News Wednesday, October 9, 1946 MUSIC BY CHILDREN

Congratulations to the Hutt Valt Memorial Technical College n the high standard attained at music festival in the Wellington Town Hall last week. Rarely indeed are such thoroughly enjoyable concerts heard in New Zealand, and the fact that they were given by school pupils was particularly gratifying. They were a proof that the Hutt Valley, while developing tremendously in population and industrial growth, is also, in some quarters. not losing sight of the value of the liner things of life. To learn not only to appreciate the host in music but also to make music themselves,will open a whole new world to the hoys: and'girls and add greatly to the richness and beauty of their lives. When listening to the fine performance of the young musicians, in both choral and orchestral work, it was difficult to realise that many of them were only first-year or second-year players and did not know a note of music when they enrolled, while during the year they had undergone very difficult conditions of work —hall too small, some instruments long past their usefulness, and insufficiency of teachers and instruments for the number of pupils offering. But led by an enthusiastic and gifted director of music (Mr. R\ E. McLay) and equally enthusiastic associates, and with the backing of the College authorities, the pupils overcame ail difficulties, and the very successful festival of music last week was the result. All concerned are to be congratulated.'