ELDERLY SINGER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

ELDERLY SINGER

VOICE LESSONS AT 79 WELSH WOMAN'S PERFORMANCE Although she has used her voice to help local charities all her life it was not until she was 79 that Sirs. E. Parfitt, of Porthcawl, Wales, took lessons in voice production. Now in her 82nd year she is a noted soprano. Her tutor discovered that she could sing with the ease ana sweetness of a girl of twenty. '1 here was 110 straining to reach top notes; no diln* cuty in breathing. For tho past 25 years Mrs. Parfitt tins been in the choir at St. John's Churcn, Newton, and during that time has not missed a service. "1 do not suppose should have been heard ol." she |aid. I had not sung at a charity concert a Cardiff Empire last year. It ,^ vas first big public appearance and it got 111 into the papers. In June I received «' invitation to sing at Cwmdare, 111 Aberdare Valley, and the letter asked ino to state my fee. I went, but expa that I was an amateur, and did 110 cept payment." , • m Mrs. Parfitt's performance that .n gj was a triumph. It seemed unfair tna * should be asked to sing again, u Welsh crowd would not let her go she had sung eight songs Mr. Dan Price, senior profesim of sing ing at the Royal College of Musk: w. there, and said he hail never met markable a singer. Mrs.. Parfitt has extraordinary \ Tall and straight, she looks 30 J ' younger than her age. The secret remarkable voice range, she til / deep breathing.