WELLINGTON COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 15 July 1925, Page 6

WELLINGTON COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

The following letter has been received ircin Mr Roland Foster, professor, of singing at the State Couservatoria.m. Sydney, who will act as adjudicator in the vocal section at the forthcoming \\ ellingtun Competitions : —“This year's syllabus is a most interesting one, representing ns it does a selective standard in the test pieces which compares favourably with that attained in Great Britain, and is undoubtedly superior to any other competition festival in Aus Iralia or New Zealand. J'hone the difii culties to be overcome will not deter competitors, but on the other hand will stimulate them to put- forth their best eflorts. even if only partially successful. The study of such music as has been wisely .chosen will be infinitely more beneficial to the development of their

musical faculties and power of intelligent appreciation than the learning of a. few easily mastered songs of the usual type- To keep pace with modern musical developments should he one ot the main objects of such competitions. ami the Wellington Soeielv evidently intends to he in the vanguard of progress, and not- wait for others to lead tile way. Art-songs like those selected are gradually supersedinp- the conventional ballads of a bygone day, and every enferprisng vocalist (and accompanist) should aim at a degree of proficiency which will bring even the best of those songs well within their powers. I am hoping to renew ac-

quaintance with most of the competitors who appeared before me two yea’s ago. and trust that manv of those who wore thou unsuccessful (especially the younger ones) will have made sufficient ini provemciil to place tliom amongst- the prize winners."