DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21405, 5 August 1931, Page 10

DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS

MEETING OF SOCIETY ’

A meeting of the committee of the Dunedin -Competitions Society was held on Monday evening, Mr E. J. Smitn occupying the chair. , , „ . The secretary submitted the following list, comparing the entries for this year’s festival with those for last year, which are given in parentheses: —Elocution, 528 (359); instrumental music, 182 (131) t vpcal music* 369' (370); dancing, 220 (164); totals, 1296 X 1024). The secretary pointed out that the entries were really better than, the figures indicated as they included 17 choir entries, 11 half-hour entertainments,g and /- 11 impromptu speeches. There had also been a very satisfactory entry for the ballets and piano duos. ■ . . , • ■ Members of the committee expressed - satisfaction at the . excellent record of entries, which augured well for Ah® •i. success of the forthcoming festival which > is to be commenced on August 19.; The secretary submitted the time table arrangements for the various sessions. . throughout the festival. The sub-committee which was set up. to make a canvass for donations reported that the requests made had met with considerable' success and several donations of cash had already been received. Several trophies had also been secured. The chairman reported that several ex-cbmpetitors had decided to make an effort to help the society and had decided to present the comedy, ‘ Tilly of Bloomsbury,” on three evenings during the season. The , cast -would consist of competitors who had already made reputations on the stage, and he anticipated that the entertainment would prove very (ittrflctiVG. * . The chairman stated that it was felt, that a great number of people did not realise the excellent educational, work tae society was doing and many did not realise the very excellent programmes which, were presented at each s: ssion of the competitions. An effort was being made to induce some of these who did. not usually patronise the festival to cqnia> . , on at least one occasion and hep the ( class of programmes that were presented . each evening. He. was confident that many, having been attracted once, would . come back to hear mote. It is anticipated that the evening sessions will prove especially attractive aa • they will include the choir contests, half* hour entertainments and other features • as well as the piano duos, duets, solos* ■ vocal, elocutionary, and dancing competitions. The society endeavours to mak® & tlie programmes as varied as possible, and it is expected that some excellent talent should be found among the competitors. As in the past, the Saturday evening programmes will be made up entirely of children’s items.