OAMARU COMPETITIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19845, 19 July 1926, Page 10

OAMARU COMPETITIONS.

The third annual festival of the Oamaru Competitions Society was opened on Saturday, the attendance at all sessions being good. The number of entries received was 760, and was a considerable Increase over last year’s figures. Visitors are present from all parts of the South Island. Dunedin especially being strongly represented. The festival was officially opened by the Mayor (Mr J. M’Diarmid) on Saturday evening. Mr E. D. Watts is stage manager, and Mrs Gordon Donaldson accompanist. The secretary, Mr It. Malcolm, has made complete arrangements. The following are the results:— VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL ITEMS. Judge: Mr Edwin Dennis (Wellington). Song for Girls (12 and under 11). “A Brown Bird Singing”.—Nancy Harper (Oamaru) 73 1, Fay Harney (Oamaru) 70 2, Piano Solo (boys or girls under 12). Annie Brown (Oamaru) 78 1, Teddy Pheloung 75 2, Kenneth Cairns (Oamaru) ami Norma Slater (Oamaru) highly commended. In this section the judge remarked that a common fault was evident in the alternate movements. The first was easy, the second difficult, and the third easy. As a result the competitors hurried the easy parts and played too slowly in the more difficult movements. Song for Girls (under 12). Own selection.—Vincente Brown (Pukpuri) 70 points 1, Gwen Thompson (Dunedin) 74 2, Zeta Gunn (Pukeurl) and Melba Ashton (Oamaru) 71 (equal) 3. Vocal Solo, accompanied by self (open). Own selection. —Doris Taylor (Oamaru) 07 points 1, E. May Ritchie (Oamaru) 03 points 2, Reta Oliver (Oamaru) 02 points 3. Sacred Solo, contralto (open). Own selection.—Mrs L. R. Templeton 73 points 1 Janet Denholm 68 points 2. Story Without Words (over 10).—Hazel Shier 100 points 1, Alice Meredith 05 points 2. Sylva Kyle and Maude E. Farrant 00 points 3. „ _ Operatic Solo (gentlemen). Open. Own selection.—Johnston Mayfield 77 points 1. Vocal Duet (lady and gentleman). Own selection—Eva Marshall and Johnston Mayfield (only competitors) 78 points 1. Soprano Solo (open). Own selection.— Sylva Kvle 74 points 2. Olive Bennett w points 3.' No first prize was awarded. Song for Girls (16 and under 18). "The Fairy Laundry.”—Nellie M’Larcn I, Phyllis Ashton 2. ..... ~ The Judge remarked that this section was weak numerically. The winner gave an outstanding performance. She sang with refinement. Vocal Quartet (any voices). Own selection.—ldlers’ Quartet 76 points 1. ELOCUTION. Judge: Mr A. Stanley Warwick (Wellington.) Recitation (girls 9 and under 12). “An Eastern Legend”.— Berta Borcham (Dunedin) 70 points 1, Gwen Thompson (Dunedin) 09 points 2, Joyce Tait (Oamaru) 67 points 3, Dorothy Crawshaw highly commended. . ... Recitation (boys 9 and under 12). “Going Down Hill on a Bicycle.”—John Ward (Oamaru) 77 points 1. Tom Bourke (Oamaru) 71 points 2. Recitation (boys 12 and under 10). “Die Farmer’s Boy.”—Lawrence Nathan 72 points 1, Sydney Ashton *0 points —. The Judge said that in this section the second competitor could not pronounce certain vowels correctly. Mispronunciation was very noticeable in New Zealand, though not to such an extent as in Australia. Shakespearean Recitation (under 21 ladies or gentlemen, own selection). —■ Doris Aikenhead, 75 points, t; Alice