COMPETITIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18987, 8 October 1923, Page 9

COMPETITIONS.

FINAL DEMONSTRATION CONCERT. Tho twenty-second session of the Dunedin Competitions was officially brought to a close on Saturday night at His iVlajesty s 'theatre, when the third and final demonstration concert was presented to a largo audience. In the afternoon there was & matinee performance, which was specially arranged lor tho benefit of juveniles. The attendance on this occasion was likewise good. The following was the programme submitted Piano uuel, ‘‘No. 2 Dance Rustique,” Misses Christina Bevan and Ethel Riclian; recitation, “ Big Smith,” Master Lester Moller; child’s action song, Miss Thora Vivian; humorous recitation. Master Jack. Hannah; piano solo, "Elves at Flay,” Master Kenneth Rigby; children’s duet, .Misses M. Beswick and Joyce Reid; recitation, ” My Grannie,” Miss Billie Robinm;,i; song tor boys, "There’s a Song Down j.vr , Koadway,” Master Jack Stevens; plain* duet, “ March Militaire,” Misses Pat uariand and Caren Wildey; children’s duet, .ni>sos Joyce. Dove and Pearl Carohn; song for hoys, "Land of Counterpane,” Master ltd ward Guinpalzes; humorous recitation, -Master Ivan Davidson; child’s action song, Miss Betty Coventry; piano solo, “Balletino,” Miss Beryl Cooper; song for girls, “You Will Never Grow Old,” Miss Rita Ratfels; skipping rope dance. Miss Grace Dincen; child’s action song, Master John Edgar; humorous recitation. Miss Roa Lambert; song for girls, “I Am Longing for tho Spring,” Miss Ethel Docherty. •Mr E. G. Reynolds, president of the society, was in the chair at the evening concert, and in the course of his remarks he said he desired thank most heartily the Dunedin public for the generous support accorded the society. The session, taken all round, might, he thought, be accounted a success for (he general nigh standard of the performances, and also financially, as the results were slightly better even than last year’s record, in some classes, notably tho elocution contests, there had been a decided falling oil' in the number of entries, but, in almost all of tho other branches they had shown advancement, and those who had attended regularly must have been struck by the number of times tlie judges had commended in the highest terms the artistic efforts of the various competitors. He would like to say a word or two with regard to rile judges and their judgments. The society, for obvious reasons, could not use local talent, and was forced to obtain judges from a distance, and this constituted one of their heaviest (loins of expenditure. They did not grudge lids when they felt al the end of tho session that the judges employed were men of sound judgment, fair, and absolutely impartial, and he thought he could safely say that the judges engaged this year filled the bill in every respect. The success of the society practically hung upon this issue, and it had always been the aim of the committee to obtain tho very best to fill these important positions. This year’s competitions had shown the strength of the talent in the very young sections, and remarkably fine artistic performances had been registered by some of the younger children; moreover, they would be pleased to note the decided improvement in form shown by some of the older competitors who had appeared in past festivals. They had had many delightfully rendered items, and one of the judges in particular (Mr Payne), in conversation with the committee at the conclusion of the session stated that the Dunedin Competitions compared most favourably with any other competitions where he judged in Australia in that practically the whole of their competitors came from their own town and suburbs, whereas, taking one of the largest societies on tho other side, probably 20 competitors only came from their own town, the remainder from other cities and other States, and this fact went to show that in Dunedin they had a very talented lot to draw upon. The national and fancy dances were extremely pleasing to witness, and, provided competitors did not overtax their strength, they must bo productive of good health and give a lightness to tho walk and ercctness to the carriage, and they all knew what an asset this was to either man or woman. On behalf of tho committee and those present he desired to thank the competitors one and all for the efforts thev had made to please and entertain, and to those who had won he would say they richly deserved their successes ; to those who had not taken prizes he would advise them to study hard and to strive to be in the prize lists next year. Publicly he wished to acknowledge the great debt they were under to Mr E. S. Wilson, their secretary, for the immense amount of work and energy he displayed year after year in connection with these competitions. He wished also to thank Mr C, A. Martin, their accomplished accompanist. and to assure him that his efforts had been praised by every judge they had had since he undertook to act in this capacity. During the first two or three nights of the competitions they wore, owing to his illness, without his assistance, but Miss Frazer kindly undertook to help them through, and did so most excellently, and earned the thanks of the judge, performers, and committee alike. Mr W. H. Ferens had, as usual, given his best attention, to marshalling the little performers, and the staff generally had_ given every possible assistance. He specially wished to refer to tho generosity of firms and individuals who had given scholarships and special prizes. The society had also to thank tho press and the reporters for the very full and accurate accounts of the performances published daily. These had run into columns of space which had been given gratuitously, and had helped considerably in making for the success of the competitions. The following was the evening’s programme:—Combined ballet, "Le Triomphe D’Automne,” Otago School of Dancing; piano duo, “ Danse Maclere,” Misses M. M'Adam, N. Malhesou, F. Pickard, and B. Stewart; humorous recitation, Master Lester Moller; vocal solo (accomp. and obligato), “ A Summer Night,” Mrs Stanley Foot© (piano, Miss Ruby Hudson; violin, Miss Bessie Paine); dance duo, “A Dutch Wooing,” Misses Miriam Beswick and V. Lamb; piano duet, '“No. 4 Spanish Dances,” Misses Mary M‘Don aid and Alice Wilson; recitation, “Romance,” Miss Nellie Osborn; Highland fling. Miss Nettie Pullar ; child’s action song, “Little Clown Doll,” Miss Pearl Carolin; skipping rope dance, Miss V. Lamb; sacred contralto solo. “Out of the Deep I CoiT,” Miss L. Smith; character sketch, “Ophelia,” Mrs F. J. Gain piano solo, “Elves at Play,” Miss Elva Peace; children’s duet. "The Twins,” Masters Jack Stevens and Lewis Fronde; fancy dance. "Dance Russo," Miss Linda M'Donald; songs for girls, lam for the Spring.” Miss Thora VK.an; humorous recitation, “The Invalid,” Miss Billie Robinson: toe dance. Miss Frances Smith; vocal solo, “Slumber Song,” Miss Connie Flamank; piano duet, “No. 2 Danse Rustique,” Misses Kathleen Wilkinson and Marguerite Matbeson; musical monologue, “The Clown,” Miss Winnie Beck; tenor solo, “ Lindon Lea,” Mr J. Swan; dance duo, “Toyland,” Misses Gertrude Orlowski and Betty Collie; violin solo, “Mazurka.” Miss Anna Briosro : recitation, “What They Saw in the Moon,” Miss Winifred Hunter’; vocal solo; “Non Pni Andrai.” Mr Douglas Craigio; Highland reel. Misses Doreen Wheeler. Eileen APCarthy, May Hungerford, and Loma Budge; piano solo, “ Valse Lyrique,” Mr L. S. James; humorous reoilation, “Tho Vicar’s Presentation.” Miss Anita Winkel: song for boys, “ There's a Song Dowji Every Roadway.” Master Rodney Kennedy: fancy dance, “La Militaire.” Miss E. mo Morrison: vocal solo, “ From Oboron in Fairyland,” Mr F. B. Davy; chief piano solo, “ Etude on Forme D’Une Valse,” Miss Mary M’Donald; Irish reel M isses May Thompson. Doreen Wheeler, E. Johnston, and L. "Walsh ; sacred tennr solo, “Crossing the Bar,” Mr E. Gavin Carter; skipping rope dance. Miss Gwen Webster; miartet, “The Long Day Closes.” Airs S. Foote, Aliss A. Todd, Messrs J. Keenan and T. Kinmont. THE ORIGINAL STORY. FIRST PRIZE ONLY AWARDED. The judge fDr Marshall Alaodonald) has given his award in the original story competition, which was one of the competitive sections of the Dunedin Society’s festival. The competition was open to amateurs —the story not to exceed 2500 words. Dr Macdonald writes : I award first, prize to “ Amiens ” for the story “An Episode at Law.” I do not make any award for second place. I regret to say that the stories arc lacking in interest, poor in composition, and for tho most part disfigured by errors in grammar and spelling. The standard is far below what it was some years ago. The prizewinner is Mr A. A. Harrison,, Dunedin.