DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23885, 12 August 1939, Page 7

DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS

THIRTY-EIGHTH FESTIVAL

Season qp£ns next week

ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMMES ARRANGED ■ :

The thirty-eighth annual festival of. the, Dunedin Competitions Society will be, commenced on Wednesday and although lacjs; of public support, in the .past has made it necessary this year to curtail the syllabus by one-third, with a consequent in the length ofithe Programme, there is every indication that the festival will.be a .successful one. : Tlie number.; of "entries totals approximately 1800," Which represents a decline of only about one-quarter of the total reached last year. All the sections have been, well supported, the number of entries in each- section being as follows:—Vocal, 650; elocution; (540; instrumental, 290; arid daneMg|22o. . V The Four Judges' J;Tlie society has again been fortunate in securing the■ services. o£ two Trinity College; exanpners to adjudicated!! thewocdl dnd elocution sections. Mr Adolph'-Mann, whd has been a judge attfie spciety’s-festivals before, will adjudicate in the vocal sections. Holding the degree of A.R.C.M., he is examiner for the Trinity College in .practical subjects —pianoforte, organ, -violin, singing, elocution, etc. Mr Mann received his musical training in his native town of Eastbourne and under Dr Otto Neitzelj in Cologne-, Besides the piano and organ hid studies included the :-y4olih, violincdllo and clarinet, vocal, tejiftpique, both sola he bapi had a and conductor;' In; ad'difibh dp- a v 'busy teaching career:-,he , has" travelled widely as a sold.;and'Chaipber : :music pianist, appeared at concerts -in %phdoh {and 'ijjiid? provinces. - , ' *

, ..Mr compositions chamber nuisic," in Varjousiforms—a sqriata • for.; yip lin and: ■ pianoforte, a trio, and,’a* ‘‘ Gondoliera’’/fbr/ two violins—besides a variety 'of ;: pianoforte pieces-- : His'- overture for full was placed .fißitvin ,the: highly commended'list "out 'Of :-223 ehtrids.Jn the Daily ■ 'Telegraph /orchestral Ooriipetilion'in 1934. '- ‘ . ‘V- - ■ "• v Mr; ,Rhpett/Ha%ey, ; ,/also ;/ ; of the Trinity Oblleg^ elocution; - cl&SseS/:ah;vthh/ studied; ,sofi ;t&e; giana appearance m London ih 1908’with Sir Frank Benson’s company, and later with Laurence Irving. As a dramatic producer his wofk-includes plays of every description, produced both at Home and overseas He has on many occasions acted as adjudicator at drama .festivals and elocution competitions, and he has, a,; wide stage experience, haying .taken leading parts in all Shakespearian plays. The judge of the instrumental classes, Mr Paul Schramm, needs no introduction to ’the. Dunedin public. A brilliant concert pianist, ; he-has given two recitals in this, city within the past 12 months and his'recent decision to make his home in' this country will be of great value to the musical life of thelDominioh. V- , ;-:i; ■Miss Betty Chfistchprch,. will judge the "dhuoing, and should maintain the high .standard set by previous dancing/adJumcatbrs at past festivals. , ■ / / ' ', : / ' Society Well-Supported The reduction of the syllabus for this year’s festival, one exception ,meant - .,. the 4 deletion, /of only minor, classes, or in most cases, the - combining of two / classes together. The Grand Opera Aria Contest, for the past two years one of the outstanding attractions, has, however, been dropped, ‘ butHne' Gilbert and Sullivan and light or comic opera contest,-the chief piano solo competition, , the elocution championship and other interesting contests have been retained. In addition; there will this year be a new competition for a magnificent rosebowl, valued at 25 guineas; presented by an anonymous donor. The competition will.be an annual one for winners .’of, the, soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone and bass’vocal 'sections. _ Business concerns in the city have responded as 'generously,/ag .in the past and their 'donations are such .that the society is again able to offer valuable prizes: The'Dunedin Operatic Society ahd ; the Dunedin Repertory Society :have also come to the help of the society. The Operatic Society has ffered to produce a play “ No Other-Witness,” by A. Armstrong, the author. Of “Ten Minute Alibi,” and this will be staged at His Majesty’s Theatre on September 7,8, and 9, the proceeds tb-go to the funds of the society. ,

The season will extend from Wednesday next to Saturday ofthe following week, and the committee has spared no effort to make each session as attractive as possible. : In addition to the usual demonstration concerts at the end of the ..season, there will be a pianoforte recital on the second last night by Mr Paul Schramm, his numbers being interspersed throughout a programme that will include the rose bowl competition, and he. final of the Gilbert, and-Sullivan contest,. , . , Three halls will be used' for the festival—His Majesty’s Theatre, the Victoria Hall and the Concert Chamber.' ’ ■' -■■ ■ " ",' ■"