BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 97, 23 March 1940, Page 8

BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY.

PROPOSED FESTIVAL. At a meeting convened by the Alanawatu branch of the British Music Society, on Wednesday to consider holding a Centennial music festival in Palmerston North, representatives were present irom the Girls’ Music Club, Townswomen’s Guild music circle, Music Teachers’ Association and the British Music Society. The chairman (Dr. F. H. McDowall) stated'that the meeting had been called as the result of a decision made at the annual meeting of the British Music Society. The purpose was to consider the project of holding a musical celebration to mark the Centennial of New Zealand. The arrangements for such a celebration had previously been in the hands of a Wellington provincial council, which had endeavoured to organise an extensive celebration. Information had recently been received from the council stating that it would be unable to proceed with the proposed festival, it now being left to the different branches of the British Music Society to organise their own celebrations. He had agreed to act on a Palmerston North committee, but so far no results bad boon obtained in this direction. It was for tiie meeting to decide whether thev were going to hold a festival in Palmerston North of a typo u*at would encourage local musical units to present items for the general enjoyment of the public. It was agreed, after a. discussion, to proceed with the project, and the following were elected the nucleus of a committee with power to add : Mesdames W. R. Bieham and A. Attwood (secretary). Miss E. Rawlins niuj Dr. McDowall. It is proposed to hold a concert or concerts in about two months’ time, tile proceeds from which will be donated to some patriotic fund. The gramophone group of the British Music Society held a meeting on Tuesday at D r . F.. H. McDowell’s residence in Worcester Street, when selections from the works of Mozart and Beethoven were played.