CANADIAN PIANIST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 4

CANADIAN PIANIST

tour of mining camps UNCONVENTIONAL AUDIENCES A pianist who has achieved a reputation in Canada, Miss Ursula Malkin, left yesterday by the Niagara- for Sydney to fulfil a radio contract in Australia. Miss Malkin is a daughter, of Mr J. F. D. Malkin, who was president of the Board of Trade in British Columbia during the Great War. To further her musical education, .Miss Malkin spent two years in Vienna. Pier first appearances on the concert platform in Canada on her return created something of" a sensation, and she toured not only the cities as a solo artist, but also the mining camps in British Columbia. Many times she had to travel fnr from the railways and even by sledgo over great areas of snow.

The pianos in these places Miss Malkin described as terrible. The audiences, however, were very appreciative and the miners seemed'very fond of music. On ode occasion they made her the guest of honour at a specially arranged boxing match. "It was quite a good show, too," she said. "I guess they found out I liked boxing, though 1 really like wrestling better." At one of the places Miss Malkin visited, a company mining town on the border of Alaska, the miners attended her concert, the first they had ever had there. Instead of giving them a programme of popular music as sha was advised, she gave them a short talk about music as an introduction. At first they stood at the back of ths hall, but as her talk proceeded they ventured closer in, after which «he played Mozajt, Beethoven and Lizst, all on an upright piano. She found them very appreciative. At the close of her Australian contract, Miss Malkin may tour New Zealand.