TRINITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15919, 3 May 1912, Page 2

TRINITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC.

<r ■» PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS. The annual presentation of diplomas and certificates to the successful candidates in the theoretical and practical examinations conducted last year by Trinity College of Music, London, took place in the Alexandra Hall yesterday afternoon in the presence of a very large gathering. Bishop Grimes presided and there were also on the platform Messrs H. H. Loughnan, Arthur Lilly, A.R.C.0., C. Allison, and the local secretary of tho College, Mr Davis Hunt. The annual report was of a satisfactory nature. It stated that the number .of students presenting themselves for examination had steadily, increased since the examinations were first conducted in the dominion. The figures for the past four years were : 1903, 83; 1909, 110; 1910, 144; 1911, 201. Bishop Grimes said that two years ago Lord Plunket, at that time Governor of the dominion, when presenting the certificates and diplomas, had commented on the paucity of male students, as shown by the examination results. Had he been present that day ho could not have failed to notice the gratifying increase of male students, as evinced by this year's list of successful studente. The present age was one in which men were apt to do their work by proxy, hut the study of music required personal application and could be mastered only oy perseverance on the part of the student. In the olden days it was considered effeminate for the male sex to be concerned in the study of such an art as music. But things had changed and to-day it was considered a mark of refinement for a man to be an exponent of any musical instrument. The ■ examiners sent out by the London Colleges were men of the highest ability and there was no doubt as to the high standard _ of the examinations held in the colonies. It was a credit to a student to pass one of these examinations. He congratulated the winners of certificates and diplomas on their well-earned success. A short programme of instrumental music was then given by some.of the successful students, after which the prizes were presented by Bishop Grimes to the candidates whose names were published recently. Trinity College awards local exhibitions on the results of the local examination's held each year. These exhibitions provide for the further musical education of the winners for twelve months. The exhibition winners for 1911 included two Christchurch students, Basil, Kingan. fourteen years of age, who won an intermediate practical exhibition, and Howard Moody, aged eleven, who secured a junior practical exhibition.