THE COMPETITIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19731, 2 September 1927, Page 14

THE COMPETITIONS.

VERY SUCCESSFUL CONCERT. VARIED PROGRAMME GIVEN. SOME OUTSTANDING ITEMS. JUDGING NEARING COMPLETION. With the last day o£ the Auckland musical and elocutionary competitions at hand, the first of the demonstration concerts was given in the Town Hall last evening, when there was a good attendance. Excellent entertainment was provided in a varied programme calculated to suit all tastes. One of the most outstanding performances in the early part of the programme was a song in character, "Tatters," given by Master David Lunny. Dressed in ragged clothes, he played the part of a street urchin with considerable ability. Moreover, possessing a good voice, he used it to cood advantage. A very effective display was given by Mdlle. Valeska's bullet group. To the tune of "Hey, Diddle, Diddle," two groups of girls—big and small—danced a number of Charleston steps. Much amusement was caused by Mr. ,T. A. Sharp in a humorous recital, "The Curate." He was certainly the ideal parson caricature. He made the most of the numerous jokes which have been woven into the intimations given by the minister from the pulpit. Ho was well received and gave an encore of a similar typo. Another item which found favour with the audience was a character recital, "Barnaby Rudge," given by Miss Doris Messer. The performer played the Dickens character with considerable skill and at all times was most convincing. The dancing items formed a strong portion of the programme. A Russian dance was given with much spirit by Miss Gwenth MacNaughton. Several songs, given by both juveniles and adults, were well received. Three piano solos and a violin solo, all well given, were among the musical numbers. Added variety was attained with recitals and a recitation. A very pleasing programme concluded with the playing of "Serenade," by Misses Marion McMurtrie and Ruby Brame and Mr. P. Black. During the evening the president of the Competitions Society, Mr. Andrew Menzies, announced that, as there were so many competitors worth appearing before the public, it been decided to hold two further concerts, on Monday and Tuesday evenings, in addition to the grand demonstration concert to-morrow evening. Several long classes were heard during the day. Elocutionary classes predomin ated and the judge, Mr. Borradale, who was required to put through six classes, did not. conclude the afternoon sessioi> until about seven o'clock. There were over 30 competitors in two of the classes Following are the results: — PIANO SOLO (Under 10). "To a Sleeping Fairy" and "Farewell to the Fairies." Leola Bickerton, Grafton, 340 points 1 Gordon Hewitt, Onehunga, 33Q points 2 Betty Guest, Mount Eden, 337 points 3 Highly commended: Loma Reed, Ilerne Bav, arid Ruth Hutchinson, Auckland. The judge said the standard was good, but lapses of memory in many cases affected the result. . The winner treated the piece in the dainty style in keeping with the title. WELSH NATIONAL' SONG. "All Through the Night." Miss Edna Peace, Northcote, 179 points 1 Mr. Thomas Haworth. Mount Eden, 177 points 2 Mr. Claude Pearce, Mount Albert, 176 points 3 Highly commended: Miss Mary Clark, Kohimarama: Mr. Albert Culley, Avondale. This class produced a fairly even type of voices, although one or two sang much too slowly. The winner gave a very fair rendering, as did also Mr. Haworth. ENGLISH NATIONAL SONG. "Drink to Me Only." Mr. Claude Pearce, Mount Albert, 170 points . . . . . . . . 1 Miss Edna Peace. Northcote, 167 points 2 Mr. Thomas Haworth, Mount Eden 166 points . 5 This piece is an example of a perfect melody, the judge said, and imagination has to come strongly into play to express the subtle meaning of the phrases. The interpretation of the part "but ! thou thereon didst only breathe" was ' approached only by two competitors—- ! Mr. Pearce and Miss Peace. CHARACTER DANCE, Under 9. Joy Lodder, Auckland, 75 points . . 1 Joan Fearnley. Otahuhu, 72 points 2 Patricia Boyle. Ponsonby, 71 points . 3 This was considered to be a splendid section. The winner gave a clever performance. The work of Miss Fearnlev and Miss Boyle was very good for such small children SONG BY NEW ZEALAND COMPOSER. Ladies. Miss Edna Peace, Northcote, 188 points t Miss Kate Christie, Grey Lynn, 174 points . • • 2 Miss Ida Armstrong, Auckland, 172 points • <5 The winner gave "Abide With Me," composed by Mr. J. A. Phillpot, organist at St Matthew's Church. The judge said she had used what he had been waiting for—a good, soft, caressing tone, SIGHT READING. Primary School Pupils Standards. IV., V and VI. Elva Wngley, Mount Eden, 84 points . 1 Audrey Best, Devonport, 82 points 2 Kathleen Bovle, Ponsonby, 81 points 3 Highly commended: Colin Dawson, Auckland; Betty Insult, Epsom; Goldie Lawson, Mount Eden; Mollie Need ham. Auckland. The judge considered the class as a. whole good. The great disparity between the ages of the competitors placed a great hardship on the younger ones. TEST RECITATION. Girls, under 16. " Balliol Rooks " (Frederick Boas). Eunice Riley, Avondale, 86 points , . 1 Doreen Saunders, Auckland, 83 points. 2 Elva Wrigley, Mount Eden, 81 points . 3 Highly commended: Leila Armitage, Epsom ; Joan Ross, Epsom; Valerie Cunningham, Ponsonby: Rosalie Daniels, Mount Eden. The winner gave an outstanding performance and was well .ahead of the others. The ...piece was a very exacting one and many did not give anything like the correct rendering. Wrong emphasis was used and there were wrong inflexions. TEST RECITATION. Boys under 16. "Craven" (Newbolt). Kenneth Warburton, Penrose, 83 points I Noel Vear, Ellerslie, and Ccdric Zahara, Auckland, 81 points . . . . 2 This class was considered good as a whole. Some of the boys were inclined to be rather melodramatic. SHAKESPEAREAN RECITAL. Gentlemen. Piece from "Measure for Measure." Mr. Thomas Vivian, Grey Lynn, 80 points 1 Mr. W. J. O'Connell, Ponsonby, 78 points . . . . 2 Mr. Fred. Hargreaves, Auckland, 71 points . . 3 The judge said the winner brought out the interpretation well He had an excellent voice and used it to good advantage-

Recalls in three classes were made as follows: Musical Monologue.—Miss Margot Trafford, Takapuna; Miss Phyllis Mobberley, Mount Albert; Mr. W. J. O'Connell, Ponsonby; Mr. J. A. Sharp, Auckland. Character Dialogue, under 16.—Miss Doreen Saunders and Kenneth Warburton, Auckland; Misses Francis Phillips and i Nancy Kay-Stratton, Auckland; Misses Gladys Cain and Olga Elsmore, Auckland, Operatic Dance, over 15.—Miss Isabelle Brook, Epsom; Miss Mabel Andrews, Onehunga; Miss Marjorie Brook, Epsom. TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. JUDGING OF FINAL CLASSES. The remaining classes in the competitions will be judged to-day. Proceedings at the Town Hall concert chamber in the morning will commence with the hearing of the oratorio solo (soprano;, which will bo followed by the violin solo for competitors between 14 and 18 years. The last class in the morning will be the song and accompaniment class. In this the man will sing, being accompanied by a lady. The positions will be reversed in the second of these classes, which will be held in the first part of the afternoon. The last class will be the modern popular song for boys and girls under 16. The humorous recital olass for ladies will commence at 9 o'clock in the Unity Hall. This will be followed by the recitation with musical accompaniment class. A character recital for adults, a character dance for children from 12 to 15 years and a classic dance for competitors over 16 will be judged in that ordei in the afternoon. A full programme for the evening will include recalls from the classes during the day.