BOY SINGER'S TRIUMPH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21295, 23 September 1932, Page 9

BOY SINGER'S TRIUMPH

SUCCESSES IN SYDNEY LUCRATIVE ENGAGEMENTS Just; over a month ago a 15-year-old Dunedin boy, accompanied by his parents, sefc out on the biggest adventure of a career which had already been marked by many brilliant successes. Now as a result of his natural gifts, fostered by careful training and teaching, the name of Lex Macdonald is known to everyone with' the remotest interest in music throughout Australia and New Zealand. ' " The story of th® conquest commence ing with Dr. Orchard, head of the New; South Wales Conservatorium of Music, and through Wm the leading professors, teachers and critics of New South Wales, is already well 4 known, but had it not been for a number of Dunedin musiclovers who provided the funds in order that the boy's voice might be recorded it is possible that his rise to', fame may have been delayed some, years longer. Mr. A. W. Macdonald, Lex's father, returned to Wellington by the Maunga* nui from Sydney, but on account of a number of profitable contracts the boy has yet to fulfil he himself will not return until the end of this month. While in Sydney, Mr. Macdonald said, Lex made , six records. The usual number for any one artist to do is two, and, as in making these two it is necessary to sing sixteen songs, it can be realised that the. boy had little time for any concert work.; In fact, just on three weeks were occupied in making these records. An offer to sing over the air had been accepted, and many New Zealand listeners heard with pleasure the boy's singing at 2FC Sydney. After the broadcast the management of the station had received letters from all over New Zealand thanking them -for giving the boy the opportunity, and" also complimenting them on the fine broadcast. Mr. Macdonald said that he was particularly pleased to receive the morning after the broadcast two cables from his home town, Dunedin, one being from the boy's teacher, Mr. Ernest Drake.

A contract had also been signed "with Messrs. Hoyt's, Limited, to sing two songs without encores each night for a week, and for this the boy wan tjO receive £SO. He had also to fulfil two/other engagements before leaving, the remuneration being equally substantial. After his return Lex had been' booked to appear at Nelson on October 1, : and there is also a possibility of his touring the centres of the Dominion with Mr. Isadore Goodman, who will be remembered here as the accompanist for Mr. Joseph Hislop. It is also possible that he will appear at the Harmonic Society's concert in the Town Hall, Wellington. Asked when he * thought the f boy's voice would break,. Mr. Macdonald Baid that it seemed to be the opinion of the leading authorities in Sydney that it would not break, but merely' alter. This they attributed to the fact that the boy had been properly trained, and sang correctly from his chest.