THE COMPETITIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20391, 21 October 1929, Page 14

THE COMPETITIONS.

IMPROVED ATTENDANCES.

INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL. MANY FINE PERFORMANCES. There was a considerable improvement in attendances at tho Auckland Competitions Society's annual festival in tho Lewis Eady Hall on Saturday. The general standard of work in most divisions was good, and a variety of classes was judged. At tho conclusion of the baritone solo session and the song for girls under 12, the preliminaries of which were held in a smaller room adjoining tho main hall, owing to tho number of classes to bo completed, tho vocal judge, Mr. Lance Craig, of Hastings, gave tho competitors and their supporters a short address on their work. The hints given by Mu. Craig were of considerable value to the competitors, and were greatly appreciated.

Madame Grace Griffiths, of Wanganui, tho instrumental judge, said she was extremely pleased with the improved performances given in her classes at tho overling session. At "the conclusion of the preliminaries in each class Madame Griffiths told the competitors ot their various shortcomings, and she was vory pleased, with tho manner in which the successful entrants took notice of her suggestions, thereby giving greatly performances.

The mouth-organ contest was a novol addition to tho instrumental section. Thero were only two entrants, but both performed well, according to the judge, who said sho would have liked moro interest taken in the class.

In the elocutionary section thero were also many fmo performances. Tho musical monologue was very closely contested, and the judge, Mr. J. William Bailoy, of Wanganui, had considerable difficulty in deciding tho class. Amusement was caused in the impromptu speech section on the subjects ot' "The Relative Merits of Trams and Buses" and "Should a Gootleman Surrender His Seat to a Lady in a Tramcar ?" Most of the competitors treated tho subject in a humorous manner, but tho judge said that several speakers did not outline thoir arguments clearly enough. Extreme difficulty has been experienced by tho oxocutive in completing each class to schedule. On Saturday evening the junior combined ballet had to bo postponed and will bo held to-day. Tho length of the programme each day has proved a severo trial for the judges, the official acpompanist and other officials, who have been busy from nine o'clock in tho mornings until nearly midnight since tho competitions opened last Thursday. For the remainder of tho festival tho morning sessions will commence at nino o'clock. The results on Saturday aro:— SONG, Children under 12 "Two Littlo Shoes" (D'Hardelot Chappell.) Ivan Dunn (Northcote), 143 points .' 1 Doreen Atkins ((Reniuera) and JoyLodder (Auckland). 142 . . . . 2 Patricia Walton (Mount Albert), 141 3 The judge said that tho winner improved considerably in tho evening, but ho considered that the competitors were difficult to separato.

CHARACTER DIALOGUE, Childre/i under 16. Margery Young and Stella Loes, " Juliet arid the Nurse," 101 points .. 1 Nancy Noy and Patty Gilmour, " Hamlet and Ophelia," .. .. 2 Kathleen Boyle and Gladys Cain, "Grannie's Picture," 100 .. ..3 Highly Commended.—Hilda Gavoy and Harry Wakelin, Molly Wilson and Ethel Wilson. " Here again wo had spme very clever work," said the judge. "Certain characters were taken Which were impossible for a child, but the attempts were particularly good."

PIANOFORTE SOLO, Children 12 to 14

" Voglcin," Op. 43, Book 3 (Greig). Erin Power (Grey Lynn), 184 points 1 Patricia Devlin (Grey Lynn), 180 .. 2 Noni Morland (Remuera) and Heleno Cooper (Grey Lynn), 178 .. ..3 Very Highly Commended. —Joyce Smith (Heine Bay). " Competitors did not havo much idea of tho meaning of their piece, which is ' A Bird Song,' " said tho judge. " I was glad to see, however, thai tho recalled performers improved their evening performances on iny hints of the morning." TEST RECITAL, Girls under 16. " If," for Girls (Anonymous). Audrey Tvil (Narrow Neck), 82 points 1 Ethne Wilson (Avondale), 81 .. ~ 2 Honor Sim (Pukekohe), 80 • .. 3 Very Highly Commonded.—Rosalie Daniels (Mount Eden), Nancy Barker (Mount Eden), Cassie Gribblo (Mount Eden). Highly Commended.—Betty Mulholland (Royal Oak), Alma. Haynes (Ponsonby), Edna Pearco (Northcoto), Joyce Williamson (Mount Albert), Kathleen Boyle (Homo' Bay). " A very important section, which was difficult to decide, as there wore so many good performances," said tho judge. SONG, Girls under 16. " Song of tho Little Folk " (CoatosChappell). Renn Oeddes (Mount Eden), 153 points 1 Elsie Gaily (Mount Eden), 149 ..2 Joy Lnddo.r (Auckland) and Jean Greenwood (Ponsonby), 148. .. 3 Highly Commended.—Joan Moody (Parnell), Gladys Cain (Point Chevalier). " A nice littlo song, and very well sung," said the judge. " Some competitors had a better idea of the inner meaning of tho sono; than others, but tho standard of worK was good." MOUTH ORGAN CONTEST, Open. Mr. A. S. Broadribb (Auckland), 81 points .. .. .. .. .. 1 Dosmond Wright (Remuera), 77 ..2 "A littlo more interest would make this class easier for the competitors," said the judge. MUSICAL MONOLOGUE. Ladies and Gentlemen. Miss Phyllis Torpy (Hamilton),. 105 points .. ~ 1 Mr. Thomas Vivian (Grey Lynn), .104 2 Miss Bonnie Hawthorne (Mount Eden), 100 .. ...... .. 3 "This was quite a fair class and the first two winners.- were very good," said tho judge. VIOLIN SOLO, Under 14. » "Rondino" (Bcothovon-Kreislcr). Olive Harris (Edeij Terrace), 81 points 1 Joe Pelham (OnehungA), 80 .. ~'2 The winner, Olive Harris, who is soven years of age, also won the violin solo under 11, held on Friday. "I was very sorry to see such poor entries in this class," said tho judge. "Some competitors were not caroful enough of tho manner in which they held their bow, a "serious tiling to neglect in tho young, for such faults are very hard to ,correct when tho players get a little oldor." 1 'IMPROMPTU SPEECH, - Ladies and Gentlemen. Mr. H. W. H. Ingram (Edendale), 85 points .. •• .. .. .. 1 ■Mr. Leonard Oronin (Morningsido),, 84 2

"Tho winner stated his facts clearly, and, whilo his choice of words was not always as good as the others, his conciseness was an outstanding feature," said tho judge. "Tho class was very good and I should like to highly commend all tho entrants."

SONG AND ACCOMPANIMENT, Ladies or Gentleman. Miss Mario Bellamy, vocalist (Ponsonby), with Miss Phyllis Cato (Auckland), 152 points .. .. 1 Miss Greta Munroo (Grafton), with Miss Phyllis Lewins (Takapuna), 150 •• 2 Mrs. C. Gannaway (Napier), with Miss Langloy (Auckland), 146 .. 3 "I was vory pleased to seo a class of this description on tho programme, as accompanying is an art in itself, and should bo more encouraged and practised," said tho judge. BARITONE SOLO, "Horses of tho Dawn" (Brett). Mr. Frasor Munroo (Mount Roskill), 146 points .. J Mr. L. Kernot (Papakura), 8 136 ... 2 Mr. Walter Ker (Te Papapa). 130 .. 3

"This was a splendid song, but rather difficult for the entrants," said tho judge. "For this reason I was easy in marking, but tho competitors were disappointing in tho evening. All sang better in tho day sessions." PIANOFORTE SOLO, 16 and under 19 "Impromptu," Op. 142, No. 2 (Schubert.) j Miss Jean Clarkson (Auckland), 175 points 1 Miss Phyllis Purchase (Ponsonby), 169 2 Miss Winnie Plant (Groy Lynn), 168 3 Vory Highly Commended—Miss Phyllis Cato. "This afternoon this class was very disappointing and of rather a low standard for girls of this age," said the judge. "No ono seemed sure what tempo to play tho first theme, and I looked in vain for a good singing tone iri this theinc. Tonight, however, tho standard of the recalled performers improved very much. It is vory gratifying to see how the competitors try to iinprovo." NATIONAL SONG, Ladies. Mrs. 11. Reffel (Kohimarama), 166 points 1 Miss Doris Moore (Mount Eden), 165 2 Mrs. C. Ganaway (Napier), 157 . . 3 Thero was some very beautiful singing in this class, which was a real treat," said tho judge. "I had to bo very critical to separate tho competitoi-s, and I want to compliment the -first two entrants." SIGHT READING, Primary Schools. Standard 111. and under. Hope Dulehanty (Papatoetoe) .■. 1 Patricia Bogle (Herno Bay), and Marjorio Treanor (Pukekoho) . . . 2 TOE DANCE, under 9. Patricia Boylo (Homo Bay), 70 points 1 Ina Jones (Auckland), 69 . . . . 2 TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. VARIETY oy CLASSES. A variety of interesting classes will be decided at the competitions to-day. will bo three test recitations, for boys under 9, girls under 9 and boys 9 and under 12, as wei! as the sight-reading for primary school pupils in standards IV., V. aijd VI. Tho character recital for children under 12, the humorous recital for ladies and tho impromptu debate will complete the elocutionary section. In tho vocal division there will be the soprano solo and the sacred song for gentlemen. The only class in the instrumental division will be the saxophone solo, for which seven entries have been received, while in the dancing classes there will' be the operatic dance under 16 and the junior combined ballet.