CHORAL SOCIETY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 128, 4 May 1925, Page 11

CHORAL SOCIETY

ANNUAL REPORT. A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. Tho report of the committee of the Palmerston North Choral Society, to be presented at the annual meeting this evening, records a very successful year from a musical point of view and a satisfactory one financially, considering the monetary stringency prevailing during the yast year. At the annual meeting of the Palmerston North Philarmonic Society held in August last, the members present had considered that the time had approached when the town should have its Choral Society, and thus endeavour to produce for the music loving public more ambitious works than had hitherto been attempted, and so from that meeting the name had been changed and the Palmerston North Choral Society formed. Tho honorary membership at the close of'the year stood at 81 and the active membership at 95.' Between August and December the society had successfully produced the two oratorios, Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” and Handel’s “The Messiah.” The success of the productions had Deen largely due to the whole-hearted support of the musicians who had formed the orchestra, while the society had been particularly fortunate in its choice of soloists. The total receipts from all sources had been £240 7s 2d. The society had carried forward from the old society a bank overdraft of £BO 19s lOd and had it not been for this liability, the year’s working would have shown a small profit, which must be considered very satisfactory for the initial year’s operations. Mr J. Holmes Runnicles, continues the report, directed’ the musical work of the society with untiring zeal and energy, and he is deserving of the very best thanks for his year’s work. Special thanks are also due to Mrs Gilmour for her splendid work as honorary accompanist and to tho honorary officers who have given so much of their time to the work of the society. Tho society has further to thank Messrs G. H. Bennett and Coy., for attending to the box plans and to tho Press for the publication of items will reference to meetings and publications of the society.