COLONIAL GIRLS IN MUSICAL LONDON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12446, 1 September 1902, Page 2

COLONIAL GIRLS IN MUSICAL LONDON.

Mrs Blandford, L.R.A.M., who has just returned to the colony from England, speaks in terms of justifiable prido of the high position which Now Zealand-taught musio pupils take in England. When she went Home some months ago • she was accompanied by two of her pupils, Miss Irwin and Miss Whits oil, of Dunedin, their object being to take a finishing course at the Royal 'Academy of Music. Sir Alexander Mackenzie, the principal of the acatlemy, paid them the usual compliment of receiving them and hearing them play, and warmly complimented them upon the proficiency they displayed. Miss Irwin was placed in the pianoforte class of which Mr G. F. Reddie, A.R.A.M., is the professor, while, in regard to instruction upon the organ, Mr H. W. Richards, Mus. 8., who visited tho colonies last year as an examiner, js her professor. For tho pianoforte Miss Whitson was placed under' Mr Septimus Webbe, A.R.A.M. Both pupils were for the sight-singing tost handed over to Mr H. R. Eyers, P.R.A.M., an old member of the staff of the academy—Mi* Maitland Gard'nor, of this city; was at one time one of his pupils—and he was, Mrs Blandford tells us, delighted with the success with which they acquitted themselves. Mrs Blandford did not neglect the opportunity which her presence in London- offered her for undertaking special work at the academy, and, her desire be in ft to bring herself absolutely up to date in musical methods, She expressed a wish to be placed under the foremost technician, with the result that she was assigned to Signor Carlo Aibanesi, who has a great vogue as a teaeher, and has been privileged to include among his pupils a number of. prominent members of English society, including the daughters of the Duke and Duchess of Oonnaught, while the Duchess of SaxeGoburg and Princess Christian have played with him. Mrs Blandford thinks the les sons she received from this distinguished teacher will prove of inestimable benefit to her, immense advances in musical training having, she finds, bean made during the past 15 years. In recognition of tho services she is rendering the musical art in New Zealand—five of her pupils who have gone Home having itaken a much better standing than the general run of English girls— the Committee of Management of the Roya.l Academy of Music have appointed Mrs Blandford to act as local representative of the institution in Dimedin aivd neighbourhood. From what she says, it would appear that the Royal Academy of Music provides its pupils with tickets for important concerts ori tho most advantageous terms, and she and her protegees heard all that was musically worth hearing while she was in London, including the Philharmonic Society's concerts in the Queen's Hall, the subscription concerts ii) St. James's Hall, aiid Mr Newman's concerts in the Queen's Hall. Of the orchestral productions at the Philharmonic Society's concerts Mrs BUnuU ford speaks in terms of unstinted admiration. and of all that tjhe 'heard she was especially charmed with Dvorak's symphony No. 5, "From the New World." It is described by her as a beautiful composition, to listen, to it being like hearing the most realistic poem that was ever rieeited.