COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21146, 2 October 1930, Page 7

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL. BEGG SCHOLARSHIP. WON BY MISS RACHEL ELLIFFE. The Dunedin Competitions Society’s twenty-ninth annual festival was continued yesterday, when the attendances at the various sessions,* although not as good as might have been expected, were fairly satisfactory, especially in the evening. The. programme for the evening was a varied and interesting one, and comprised fancy dancing, vocal, elocutionary, and instrumental items, and a half-hour entertainment. Principal interest centred in the pianoforte solo for competitors from 14 to 16 years of age, the final of which was decided . in the evening, and which carries with it the Begg scholarship. Three comSetitors out of H were recalled. Miss . Rachel M, Eliffe, of Sunshine, being adjudged the winner. RESULTS. The following are the results:— INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. , Judge: Mr J. Crossley Clitheroe (Dunedin). PIANO SOLO—(a) “Night in May," (Palmgren); (b) “Shadow Dance” (Masdowell). Miss Rachel M. Elliffe (Sunshine), 371 points 1 Master Frederick L. Gray (Dunedin), 370 points 2 Miss Pearl Gray (Dunedin), 369 points 3 These competitors were recalled on Tuesday. The points awarded to the competitors in the respective sections were:—Miss Elliffe 184 and 187; Master Gray, 184 and 186; Miss Gray, 183 and 186. Mr Clitheroe stated that this was an exceedingly good section, and it. was very* difficult to pick the recalls. For competitors so young the mood of the pieces was splendidly conceived. The winner played very accurately, and placed her accents well throughout. Master Gray had a beautiful touch, but some of his chords were not quite clear. He was, nevertheless, a very promising player. Mias Gray played very well generally, but not as well in the final as in her earlier performances. She omitted a portion of the first piece at night, which lost her some marks. PIANO SOLO, under 18 years., for those who have never won a prize at previous Dunedin Competitions—“ The Sea" (Palmgren), Miss Netta M'Stay (Invercargill), 190 points 1 Miss Rachel M Elliffe (Sunshine), 188 points .. 2 These were the only competitors. Mr Clitheroe stated that both players gave remarkably brilliant performances. For players so young, this piece was quite a hurdle, but they surmounted it very easily. Miss Elliffe was not quite as accurate as the winner, and so lort points, VOCAL MUSIC. Judge: Mr Clitheroe. SACRED SOLO, ladies—Own Selection, The following ‘were recalled: —Miss D. Mi. Sligo (Roslyn), Miss Margaret E. Howden (Port Chalmers), Miss Evelyn Sheppard (Dunedin). Also competed: Miss Noni Davidson !St. Hilda) 182, Miss Margaret Green Belleknowee) 181, Miss Winnie Collier Port Chalmers) 181, Mrs Lionel Graham Balclutba) 181, Miss Margaret Murray Balclutha) 181, Miss Phyllis J. Clare Musselburgh) 189, Miss Dorothy C. Mackay (Roslyn) 180, Miss Alya Myers (Dunedin) 180, Miss' Phoebe Melrose (Mosgiel) 180,'Miss Kathleen Bond (Cnristchurch) 180, Miss Mary Somerville (Roslyn) 180, Miss E. M. Fraser (Oamqru) 179. The final will be decided to-night. VOCAL SOLO, ladies; open to all —(a) Operatic Air, own selection; (b) ballad, own selection. Miss Evelyn Sheppard (Dunedin), 376 points .. .. 1 Mrs Lionel Graham (Balclutha), 368 points 2 Miss Margaret Green (Belleknowee), 367 points 3 Also competed; Miss Margaret Murray (Balclutha) 366, Miss' Margaret E. Howden (Port Chalmers) 365, Miss D. M. Sligo (Roslyn) 365, Miss Alva Myers (Dunedin) 304, Miss Kathleen Bond (Christchurch) 364, Miss Mary Somerville (Roslyn) 360, Miss Winnie Collier (Port Chalmers) 359, Miss Phyllis J. Clare (Musselburgh) 355, Miss Helen Wilson (Dunedin) 354, Miss Dorothy C. Mackay (Roslyn) 353, Miss Thelma Blackman (North-East Valley) 352, The first section of this item was heard on Tuesday afternoon and 'the second section yesterday' afternoon. The points gained by the competitors in the respective sections were:—Miss Sheppard 188 and 188, Mrs Graham 184 and 184, Miss Green 184 and 183, Miss Murray 183 and 183, Miss Howden 182 and 183, Miss Sligo 183 and 182; Miss Myers 180 and 184, Miss Bond 183 and 181, Miss Somerville 179 and 181, Miss Collieft 179 and 180, Miss Clare 178 and 177,'Miss Wilson 177 and 177, Miss Mackay 177 and 176, Mies Blackman 176 and 176. Mr Clitheroe stated that this was a very good section indeed.' On the whole, the ballad was sung better by most of the competitors than the operatic air. Miss Sheppard gave a magnificent performance, Both .songs required the highest artistry to sing, and this performer was. equal to the demands which the music made. She was superb in both songs, and presented one of the most beautiful pieces of singing he had ever listened to, Mrs Graham gave an excellent performance. Her interpretations \vere good in both songs, but her high notes were not always well sustained. Her first song was most artistic. Miss Green was an excejlent singer. Her high notes were exceedingly well managed, and -her voice was. well used. She sang the operatic air very well indeed, but did not quite catch the mood of the ballad— Vaughan-Williams’s “ The Sky Above the Roof," which was one of the most beautiful modern songs written, VOCAL SOLO, gentlemen,' amateurs— Selection from light opera or musical comedy. Mr Denis Dowling (Ranfurly), 186 points ~ - 1 Mr C. S.‘Hawes (North-East Valley), 185 points .. , .. 2 Mr G. Salmond (Dunedin), 183 points 3 Also competed: Mr J. E. Davies (Dunedin) 182. Mr Clitheroe stated that the winner had a voice of.simply delightful quality. He chose a song from musical comedy of a light humorous nature, which he interpreted very well. Mr Hawes used his voice very well and preserved good rhythm. He gave a very good performance indeed, but the quality of his voice was not so good as that of Mr Dowling. Mr Salmond sang with great ease, but hesitated in the first verse, having evidently forgotten the words. ELOCUTION. Judges: Messrs A. C. Hanlon. K.C., W. B. Brugh, and S. fi. Osborn (Dunedin). RECITATION, ladies, open to all—"La Belle Dame Sans Merci ” (John Keats). Miss Margaret Seelye (Roslyn), 90 points .. 1 Miss Jessie’M’Lennan (Dunedin, 88 points 2 Miss Pennie Marshall (Anderson’s Bay), 87 points 3 These competitors were recalled on Friday. • For the benefit of future competitors Mr Brugh stated that the general conception of a piece and its successful interpretation carried much more conviction to him than anything else, and condoned a multitude of inaccuracies. He went on to say that, this was a particularly well-contested section. Some of the non-placed competitors gave very creditable renderings. The vecital of La Belle Dame Sans Merci,’’ which was, perhaps, one of the finest romantic ballads in the language, was exceptionally well done by the winner. Her general conception was good, and her recital of it made a rounded and complete picture. The changes of the speakers were well made, the poetic imagery was beautifully expressed, and her last line fully depicted the finality desired by Keats. Misa M'Lennan, although she gave a fine

performance, did not paint'the completed picture as did Miss Seelye. She did not faring out the changes in the speakers sufficiently; her word pictures were not so clearly defined, and she lost in her treatment of several lines. Miss Marshall gave a very fair rendering, slightly less effective than that of Miss M'Lennan. She was inclined to be unnecessarily tense, and in several parts pausation could have been employed with advantage. HALF-HOUR ENTERTAINMENT. Judges; Messrs Osborn and Clitherog. The Twinklers, 84 points 1 Pupils of Misses Neilson and Yates, 84 points ~ :; 2 There were the only competitors. . Mr Osborn said that the winners’ opening was bright and snappy. The eccentric dance was rather a scramble, and the comedy lady was rather a “wild affair - ’ for a wedding day. The show was rather scrappy at times, and the bride had not very bright prospects in view. The reyuette idea was well carried out. The entertainment was well varied, and moved along briskly. In the case of "the competitors placed second, the dialogue and stage work were efficient, but the piece was rather slow in development and action. Solo was fairly well sung, but rather detached. The action hardly moved briskly enough. The individual performers gave good work, but there was a lack of cohesion in the entertainment. The general effect was good. DANCING. Judge: Mrs Hulme (Christchurch). FANCY DANCE, character, not to include ballet, Greek, or Eastern, 10 and under 13 years. Miss 'Joyce Todd (Caversham)', 70 points Miss Loretta Kay (Dunedin), 66 points 2 Miss Mollie Wills (Invercargill), 04 points Highly commended: Miss Muriel Brown (Dunedin) 64, Miss Daphne Irwin (Dunedin) 64, Miss Lola Hoffman (Invercargill) 63. Also competed: Miss Nancy Lee (Invercargill) 62, Miss Marion Morrison (NorthjEast Valley) 62, Miss Doreen Cameron (Dunedin) 61, Miss Frances Bryan (Dunedin) 61, Miss Olga Ferguson (Dunedin) 60. Miss Molly M'Goun (Mornmgton) 59. Miss Shirley M'Clatchey (Caversham) 58, Miss Joyce Sinclair (Dunedin) 58, Miss Joan Bryan 68, Miss Margaret Upton (Dunedin). Mrs Hulme stated that the winner was where she was because she gave the best all-round character dance. She sustained the character better than any of the she danced infinitely better than the rest. Miss Kay did £ne same thing with her work. Her time was excellent, and her facial expression very interesting to watch. Miss Wills was not such a good character dancer, but nevertheless she was good, and she finished a long and trying dance as well as she began it, BALLET DANCE, operatic, other than toe, 12 and under 16 years. Miss Cora Duff (Dunedin), 91 points 1 Miss Ethel Todd (Caversham), 89 points Miss Dorothy Judd (St. Hilda), si points Also recalled; Miss Edna Todd (Dunedin) 74. Also competed: Miss Ngaire Lord (Musselburgh) 60, Miss Orma Koss (Dunedin) 59. Miss Anzac Patton (Mornington) 68, Miss Olga Ferguson (Dunedin) 48, Miss Nancy Lea (Invercargill) 45, Miss Phyllis Johnston (Dunedin) 44. Mrs Hulme said that Miss Duff was not only a beautiful dancer, but also a clever one, and she performed infinitely better in the final than she did in the preliminary. Her dancing was moat artistic, providing little touches of brilliancy, and, above all, the spirit of the dance was very well to the fore. Miss Ethel Todd was a very clever operatic dancer, but md not display the certainty shown by the winner. She was inclined to be a little businesslike, but, nevertheless, she gave a very fine performance. In Miss Judd they had a happy combination of both dancer and student. She was learning .well, and at the same time they saw a happy dance through it, though not so narked ss in tbo c&hg oi tlio other two placed competitors. Miss Edna Todd was a very good little dancer, and very well along the true methods. BALLET OR GROUP DANCING, any age, not more than 12 nor fewer than six performers. Otago School of Dancing, 87 points .. 1 Otago School of Dancing, 82 points .. 2 These were the only competitors, Mrs Hulme said that both turns'were very delightful, and entirely different. Xnat of the winning group was truly operatic, which necessitated more difficult arid, complicated work, and because of this it was placed first.- The senior ballet en pointe, as the supporting ballet, the soloists (one mounted), and the other two. adagio markers all deserved great praise., The story was clearly portrayed, and the positions of the ballet, lines, work, and general stage presence showed clearly that the girls had been trained very carefully, . The -second , prize-winners were seen in a more modern stage setting of the revue type. The story was very clearly told, the soloists achieving their little touch of adagio easily and gracefully, while the supporting ballet, comprising six quite small girls, very daintily dressed, danced as well as, girls of their age could be expected to, in executing the weffk in hand. The positions were very good, and all the girls were thoroughly at home on the stage. SPECIAL PRIZES. The following special prizes have been awarded.— Messrs C. Begg and Co.’s scholarship, valued at £l2 12s, for the winner of piano solo, 14-16 years; (a) “Night in May” (Palmgren); (b) "Shadow Dance" (Macdowell)—Miss Rachel Elliffe. Messrs Coulls, Somerville, Wilkie’S' senior championship gold medal for highest aggregate marks in ladies’ recitations—Miss Margaret Seelye. TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME. , At His Majesty’s Theatre this evening the firms’ choir contest is expected to be close and interesting. Those competing will be the Public Service, Mosgiel Woollen Mills, D.1.C., and Arthur Barnett’s choirs. To-night’s programme also includes children s acticn songs, recitations, Irish folk songs, and sacred solos for ladies. This morning’s session will include ballet dances and vocal solos for men.. This afternoon Irish folk songs, classic, dances, and step dances will be the principal events. ,