THE COMPETITIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12239, 10 September 1925, Page 7

THE COMPETITIONS

NEARING THE END . KEEN CONTEST FOR VOCAL SCHOLAR- > SHIPS CHOIR AND CHORUS EVENTS To-day. will eee the close of the actual competitions, which will be held in the morning and afternoon, and the first demonstration concert will he 'held this evening, the programme for which comprises 19 items, and includes some of the most successful competitors. Yesterday the own selection section m the vocal solo for tho society’s scholarship, ladies over 21, occupied three hours in the morning, the judge hearing 29 competitors who competed in the first section. Although some were hopelessly out of it in the first section they all appeared for the second event and in the main achieved no greater success. . In the afternoon the fiTst section of the vocal scholarship for men was completed, but there were fewer entries than m the ladies’ class, and did not take so long to hear. This was in the concert ohamber, the large hall being reserved for the afternoon for dancing classes, which were well patronised, SACRED SOLO. Baritone. Own Selection, Final. Mr Robert Allison (Christchurch), "It is Enough” * Mr Cecil Chambers (Johnsonville), "It is Enough,” 85 Mr Herbert Gardiner (Seatoun), 0,, God Have Mercy,” 79 8 •Equal. PIANO SOLO. Open Class, over 16. "Cracovienne Fan. tastique," Op. 14, No. 6 (Paderewski). Recalls.—Mr Raymond Sneddon, Hataitai; Miss Vera Boesley, Newtown; and Miss T. P. Fisher, Eastbourne. Final. Mr Fisher, 77 points 1 Mr Sneddon, 74 points -2 Miss Vera Boesley, 73 points 3 Several of the competitors, said Mr E. Empson. had failed, through inadequate technique, to do justice to the fiery moods and changing characters of the temperamental Polish dance rhythm. Mr Fisher had played with excellent execution, and had infused considerable spirit in nis interpretation. Mr Sneddon had shown good technique, but lost points through insufficient tonal contrasts, while Miss Boesley was not quite up to the others in technique. Mr Empson said that he would like to see an extension of instrumental classes, especially in ensemble work, in future competitions. STORY WITHOUT WORDS. Boys or Girls under 16. one or more characters. Final. Master Hedley Aitken (Wellington), "Music Hath Charms, ’ 70 1 Miss Annie O'Neill (Rangiora), "The Aspiring Dishwasher, 68 2 - VOCAL SCHOLARSHIP. Vocal Solo, ladles over 21, own selection, soprano, mezzo-soprano and oontralto. All who competed in the first section In the test pieces sang their own selection. It was not finished until 12.45, not leaving time for the intended address by the judge, Mr Foster, to students and teachers.

.Recalls.—Hies Jeanette Briggs (Hatai* fcai), "Jewel Song"; Mdse Eileen Kimbell (Lower Hutt), "Aria de Micadee”; Mis* A. White (New Plymouth), "One Pine Day”; Mrs May Bevill (Seatoun), "Softly Awakes my Heart”; and Hies Aileen Noble (Lower Hutt), "Voce di Donna.” The first three are sopranos, the fourth mezzo-soprano, and the fifth oontralto. Highly commended.—Hiss Amy Eaton (Wanganui), Miss Ivy Taylor (Hataitai, whose voice was better than the actual singing, eaid the judge). Hiss Annie Lucas (Christchurch), Mrs Tarrant (Wa’ngamii), Miss Jessie Josephs (Wellington;, Mrs C. P. Mercer (Dannevirke), ana Mrs V. Martin (New Plymouth). Mr Poster said he had made five recalls. instead of three, in order to give a fair chance to certain competitors who were handicapped to some extent by having to sing a more difficult song than the others in the test pieces. "Sjynnove *6 Song” was easier than the mezzo-soprano or contralto song, the last being the most difficult of all, and harder to get effect with. He had made due allowance that on the preceding day the sopranos had a relatively easy task in which they had more opportunity of displaying vocal beauty and skill. The other songs "Now Fades the Snow” (mezzo-soprano) and "Ppace” (contralto), were much more difficult from the musical standpoint, and when the singer's mind was concentrated on the musical difficulties it was harder for them to think of production and beauty of tone. Consequently they were not able to get the purely vocal effect. There had been a good deal of uneven singing. Some who had not done well in the first seotion had done better in the second, and were fairly high in points. The most consistent performers were those who had done poorly in the first sectipn and had done no better again. (Laughter.) Those highly commended were only a point or two behind those recalled.

Final. Miss Briggs, 249 points 1 Miss Kimbell, 247 points 2 Miss Noble, 246 points S Mrs Revill, 241 points 4 Miss White, 240 points 5 Mr Foster said that the first half dozen had maintained their positions all through. Miss Briggs had done very food work all through the competitions. he had depth of voice, feeling, and understanding. Miss Kimbell has a better voice than Miss Briggs, but the latter waß the better musician. TOE DANCE. 9-12 Tears. Final, Phyllis Oliver, Wellington, 71 points... 1 Leonie Holes, Seatoun, 68 points 2 iEllsie Cross, Silverstream, 67 points ... 8 Highly commended. >— Jean Denham, Roseneath; Owen Ward, Kilbirnie; Jeane Coker, Kilbirnie; M. Newport, Kaiworra. Miss Montgomery said some of the children were doing toe work prematurely, and should do more work in exercises. They should work at least two years before using their toes at all. "The dying swan,” which was first, was not suitable for children. There were too many dying animals, dying butterflies, and dying swans, and she did not like to see children dying. She liked them, bright and cheerful. OPERATIC DANCE. Under 9. Waltz Time. Final. Joan Rains, Wellington, 71 print* , 1 Marjorie Henman, Wellington, 69 pts. 2 Dorothy Daniels, Wellington, 68 pointß * Pat. Gillespie, Wellington, 68 points... * •Eiqual, third. Highly commended.—T. Bartholomew, Newtown, and Joyce. Oliver, Wellington. Tho winners had a good sense of showmanship, eaid Miss Montgomery, andT she would Have liked to have given all of the competitors a prize. SKIPPING DANCE. Under 12. Recalls.—Gwen Ward, Kilbirnie; Peggy Welch, Wellington; M. Newport, Kaiwarra. Highly commended I .—Eileen Davies, Island Bay, and Leonie Holes, Seatoun. Final. Miss Ward, 71 points 1 Miss Welch, 70 points 2 Miss Newport, 69 points 3 Miss Iris Montgomery said that she was again pleased with the performances. This was the last class she would judge, and she wished to congratulate the dancers on the high standard of their work. The general level was higher than in any other centre in New Zealand. Other places had stars just as good as Wellington, but their general standard did

not come np to the Bime mark aB that of this city. CLOG DANCE. Under 12. Recalls. —Zita Hare, Wellington; Billy Murphy, Wellington; Jackie Harris, Wellington; Margaret Oates, Wellington. Highly commended.—Gwen Ward, Kilbirnio; Adeline Burnett, Wellington. Final. Miss Murphy, 76 points 1 Master Harris, 74 points 2 Miss Hare, 71 points 8 MEN’S VOCAL, SCHOLARSHIP. Vocal Solo for Society’s Scholarship, men, over 21. Tenors, "The Hidden Treasure’’ (York Bowen); baritones, j "My Captain’’ (Cyril Scott); basses, 1 "The Wind’s an Old Woman’’ (York Bowen). The second section, own selection, is the preliminary to the demonstration concert to-night, when the awards will be made. CONTRALTO SONG. “Love Eternal" (Brahms). RecnHs. Miss Aileen Noble, Lower Hutt; Miss Nellie Amies, Wellington; Mrs May Kevill, Seatoun. Highly commended.—Miss E. Goodin, Eketahnna; Mrs Goldsmith, Heretaunga, each of whom scored 80 points. Mr Eoster said the song required a voice of considerable body and Tange. IJ reached a dramatic climax in the unshakable belief in the unbreakable nature of love. It reached a very high ' note for contraltos to take at the end, I and considering the difficulty of the song he was not surprised that some of them came to grief. On the whole it was a gool all-round performance. Final. Miss Noble, 84 points j Miss Amies, 82 points ' 2 I Mrs Revill, 81 points 3 | Mr Foster said that Miss Noble’s voice, sympathetic and yet capable of dramatio power, bad been exactly suited i to the song. Miss Amies lacked some- I thing of the intensity in the upper re- ! gister, but she displayed tenderness and 1 charm. ; RECITATION. j Boys, 16 and under 20: "Bugler Allen” ' ~ , , , (Vivien Taylor). j Master John Watchman, Karori, 82 I points j j There were only two entries,'and'Mr S Watchman was the only one placed. The 1 Judge remarked that he was a very fine type of reciter. Mr Montgomery Staart said that he was very pleased with the general allround ability of the competitors, who compared favourably with any others in Australia and New Zealand. CHILDREN'S CHORDS. Open to any children’s chorus. Under 12; IS to 25 voices. Union songs, accompanied: (a) "The Lamb (Geoffrey Shaw); <b) “The Cloud” (Bdgar Bain ton)'. Guilford terrace School, 98 points...... 1 Only competitor. t- T*? eaid that it had been delightful to hear 6uch fres hyoung voices, so admirably trained and singing with So much precision, sweetness of tone, and artistic effect. Theirs was a really excellent performance, and they would have been hard to beat even if other competitors had been forthcoming, FEMALE VOICE CHOIR.

Open only to Y.W.C.A.. Choirs. (a), accompanied: "A Summer Impromptu’’ (Markham Lee); (b), unaccompanied: A Celtic Lullaby” (Robertson). First prize, solid silver cup, presented by the board of directors, Y.W.C.A. In addition, each member of the winning choir will be entitled to a piece of sheet music presented by the Bristol Piano Co. Lakomai Choir (Mr E. W. Bobbins, conductor). 169 points 1 Huia Choir (Mr McClelland), 164 pts. 2 Timuaki Choir (Mr Mill), 161 points 3 Whakao Choir (Mr Gittings), 145 pts. 4 Mr Foster said that the winners had made a good start with firm, crisp rhythm, and had kept it going well Their rendering of the Lullaby had been good indeed.