THE COMPETITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26243, 29 August 1946, Page 8

THE COMPETITIONS

FESTIVAL CONTINUED THIRD DAY’S RESULTS Judging in the Dunedin Competitions Society’s forty-fifth festival was continued yesterday, fairly large audiences attending the day sessions in the four halls engaged for the various classes, while a large audience was present at the evening session in His Majesty’s Theatre. One of the most important sections of the day was the lieder competition, in which no fewer than 42 singers participated. As a result of the large number of entries it was found necessary to hear the class in two sec- ; tions, but the judge was faced with an added difficulty in that the class was for both male and female voices. It would have been fairer to both judge and competitors had the class been divided into two, one for the men and the other for the ladies, with separate adjudications for each group. , In the evening session, at which Mr L. Dunbar was the chairman, an entertaining half-hour entertainment, entitled “ The Gypsy’s Wedding,” was presented by Miss, Florence Pacey’s pupils. The audience also heard the first competitor in the Piano Concerto Contest. The results of the day’s judging were as follows: ELOCUTION Judge: Miss May Macdonald (Napier) Recitation (boys, under 12; “ King David," Walter De La Mare). —Bruce Evans (Invercargill), 72 points, 1; lan Harman and Kenneth Clydesdale, 71 points (equal), 2; George Tyler, 70 points, 3. Highly commended: Peter Ellis, Barry Early, Brian Holmes, Brendan McDonald. Commended: Clifford lies. Thirty-two competitors. Recitation (girls 12 and under 18, ‘‘African Moonrise," Roy Campbell).—Effle Jelley, 77 points, 1: Alma Johnson. 76 points, 2; Bernadette Canty (Invercargill) and Joan Ledgerwood, 74 points (equal) 3. Very highly commended: Lorraine Pistor. Highly commended: Shirley Stewart (Burnside), Marie George, Ngari Kirk-Burnnand. Twenty-eight competitors. The competitors in this section made an excellent attempt to speak modern poetry naturally and simply, without ‘ reciting,” the judge said. Humorous Recitation (gentlemen, own selection).—Mr John Mac Kay (Gore). 70 points, 1. Three competitors. DANCING Judge: Miss Kathleen Whitford (Auckland). Operatic Ballet Dance (other than toe, 10 and under 13).—Betty Webber, 92 points, 1; Kay Dunn, 91 points, 2; Ngaire Goodfellow, 90 points, 3. Very highly commended: Joan Beck (Edendaie), Maureen Williams. Maureen Kilpatrick. Highly commended: Aileen King, Gay Horman. Twenty-three competed. The judge said the winner danced very artistically and with great feeling. She showed marked promise. The second ocmpetltor was also good, but did not have quite as much finish as the winner, while the third, although promising, did not have so strong a technique as the other two. Tap Dance (suitable for musical comedy, 12 and under 14). —Colleen Hills (Gisborne) and Eunice Bell, 89 points, equal, 1; Bert Adair (Christchurch), 87 points. 3." Very highly commended: Marion Cain, Yvonne Eustace (Mosglel). Twelve competed. The judge said the section as a whole was very good, and it was impossible to separate the two competitors awarded first place. Dance Duo (other than dramatic, 10 and under 12).—Jill Ormandy and Peggy Guy (Christchurch), 85 points, 1; Lenore Potbury and Frances Dey, 78 points, 2. The only competitors. The judge said that the winners’ dance embodied a very good Idea for young performers. Their arms were supple and they used them to advantage. VOCAL MUSIC, Judge- Mr James Leighton (Auckland) Vocal Solo, Lieder (ladies or gentlemen, own selection).—Mr Geoffrey de Lautour, 87 points, 1; Miss Rae Geddes (Green Island), 85 points, 2; Misses Yvonne Hill and Edna Graham (Christchurch), 83 points, equal, 3. Very highly commended: Misses Ailsa Poulter, Muriel Gregory, Edna Graham (Christchurch), Jean Keen, Dorothy Mutch, Messrs W. Kerr (Waitahuna), Walter McDonald. Forty-two competitors. This was a difficult class to judge, in view of the mixed voices and the wide range of songs, the judge said. He felt that from the point of view of J u ,2 g Hi g the conditions in the class cou d be tightened up in so far as the choice oi songs was concerned,:as anything before Schubert came into the category of classical songs and not lieder. The two competitors recalled* in the evening were outstanding performers, and maintained intensity and continuity of interest throughout their work. The average standard in the section was good, but he found that the majority of the competitors squandered their vocal resources and could not achieve their climaxes Without a deterioration in tone quality. Song for Girls (10 and under 12, “Two Little Stars,” Sandford).—Lorraine Harvey, 88 points. 1; Shirley Walters, 86 points, 2; Olga Leys (Invercargill), 85 points, 3. Very highly commended: Patricia Brown, . Iris Elder. Highly commended: Dorothy Haigh, Elaise Joh n st°ric. _ Cornmended • Shirley Adsms (Mosgiel), Noeline Borrie, Joy Downes, Aileen Pearson (Port Chalmers). Thirty-two comDetitors. The winner had a charming voice, her interpretation and her appreciation of a difficult rhythm were good, and she sang artistically, the judge said The second competitor was suffering from a cold, but she gained marks in interpretation and diction. Tenor Solo (“ Do Not Go, My Love,” Hagemann).—Mr fl. Rickard, 89 1- Messrs Russell Kirk and Allan Botting. 83 points, equal, 2. Very highly commended: Mr S. D. Lawrence: Highly commended: Messrs N Larkins, Raymond Dalton, and Cyril Gray (Invercargill). Eleven competitors.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC Judge; Mr C A. Martin (Invercargill) Piano Solo (16 and under 18. "Theme Varie." Paderewski)—Miss Betty Cleland, 88 points, T; Miss Elizabeth Haig, 84 points 2; Miss Gwenda James, 78 points. 3. The only competitors. The winner gave a thoughtful and musicianly performance, the judge said. Her control was excellent, her finger action was clean/ and she shewed discreet judgment in nuances aof tone. She was obviously a talented girl. The second competitor did not discriminate between the various tempos, but she had fluency and should develop into a good pianist. Piano Solo''(12 and under 14. “ Solfeeietto,” Bach, and Waltz in E major, No 2, Brahms)—lan Kerr, 87 points, 1; Brian Cleland, 86 points, 2; Chrisleen Strang (Invercargill). 85 points, 3.

Highly commended; Jeanette Taylor (Invercargill). Commended: Rosemary Whitehead. Murray Wyatt, Margaret Maclean. Valmai Elliott. Twenty-seven competitors. The judge said that the winner gave a musicianly performance and had ample finger dexterity to cope with the subtleties demanded in Bach. He displayed delightful cantabile touch and judicious use of the pedal in the Brahms waltz. The second competitor did not have quite the fluency of the winner 'r. the Bach, but gave a delightful performance of the vyaltz in which he employed a beautiful Cantabile touch. This was an excellent test for this grade, as Bach pieces revealed weaknesses in the technical equipment in most of the competitors.

PROGRAMMES FOR TO-DAY A* interesting programme will be presented at His Majesty’s Theatre to-night, with the New Zealand elimination contest (vocal). The programme will also include piano duos, elocution scholarships for adults, demi-character and tap dances, song and dance, national song, negro spirituals, humorous character sketches, violin solos, and instrumental quartets. To-day’s sessions will include elocution for ladies, eloculion scholarship for boys, and prepared speeches at the Jubilee hall in the morning; national sdffgs at the Concert 'Chamber; piano sight reading, .nstrumental quartettes and instrumental trios and violin solos at Early Settlers' hall; demi-character dances, and classic and ballet dances at His Majesty’s theatre. In the afternoon at the Jubilee hall there will be elocution scholarship for adults, recitation (gentlemen); at the Concert Chamber, baritone solos and negro spirituals; at the Early Settlers’ hall, songs for girls; at His Majesty's theatre, song and dance and child’s action songs. The box plan for the season, including the final matinee and demonstration concert, is open at Messrs Charles Begg and Co.