ROYAL ACADEMY AND ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 42

ROYAL ACADEMY AND ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC.

PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES The ceremony in connection with the presentation of certificates to the successful candi dates in the local examinations, of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Mime took place at the Otago University on Friday after nocn. The % ice chancellor (Mr E. B. Car gill) presided, and Professor Sale also occupied a -cat on the plitform, and besides the students there was a large number of ladies and gentlemen present. The Chairman, betoro presenting the silver medal and the certificates, said he was glad to know that music had made great progress not only 111 Dunedin, but in the colony of late year*. Anything that could be clone to promote the cultivation of every department of music wa3 to produce a great public bene fit He hoped to see music become more and more popular. The decision of the two Colleges of Music 111 London to conduct examinations in the colonies would, he trusted, keep up a good standard of music, and cultivate rrus'r in the right direction. The certificates were the-i banded out by the Chairman to the winner^, the lecipients being welcomed with applause in recognition of their success. Tae silver medal, tho chief honour, was won by Miss Luzetta Matthew-. Professor Sale, M.A., thought a person might almost be accused of impertinence who, not hawng himbelf had a good education in music and cle%oted himself to the serious study of mu.nc, came forward to address those who weio evidently making a serious study of raunc. and some of whom, at any rate — man) of them, he hoped — would hereafter be eminent in music. However, there were one or two reasons why he was glad to have this opportunity of: saying a few words In the fir**- place, he had something to do with the negotiation of the?e examinations, and he was sure they weie d very great importance to all of them in the study of music and m other ways. Every link that conrcctc.l us more closely with the old country was of very gi-cat importance — (Applause.) Taesq was. licivte.vei^ a matter

lh.it was cniiai.ig < oi.bidcral/s di appointment Hi 1 cnr.ei.Uon with the^e oxunjiiations. Ho wa« eorry it was so, but he could not lefrain. from allud'-.is? to it. Thp building r\ which they were assembled, at, they all knew, wa-4 open to c-M'ijone who c'icse to c cine to it It was partly on that ground ho fu^go^to'l to the Hoiae puthcritirs t'lat the c\amiii, - tio'is should Le lull m the ivuiv6i=ity !>;- deed, he would like to see the study oT mr.«io concerted more closely with the uaivcrti'y Jt was a. place that wa^ not only open to aP persons, but it was totally uiiscctanan. AH tha students, whate\er religion they belonged ii C C — ,7c\vs, Catholics, Protestants of all kind;, Moh^mmedane, if they had them— were welcome to come to that university and recehs w Kit education it was able? to afford. Fa thought the &ame would have been the ca-j 111 these muoical examinations, but he w^s sorry to find that two institutions, which were large.y represented in the room that day— St. Domni.ck's Priory and St. Hilda's Collegiate Schoc I—objected1 — objected to sending the r pupils to the university for examination. lie thought that was a serious mistake, .and, in, Ids opinion, the Royal Academy and the Royal College would do well to retrace their steps as rapidly a.s possible — (Applause.) The great object they had in that institution was not to intensify but to do away with, all differences caused by religious be'iefs — (Applause.) They associated together «n eveiy possible way, and he ha'! never heard of anyone receiving any unpleasantness whatever through mixing with others who held a different creed. Ec was sorry to have to allude- to this, but ho felt bound to do so, because if that decision wa3 no: recalled he would not .like to appear on the platform. or have anything to do with these examinations in futuie. — (Applause ) The speaker went on to refer to the success attending the examinations held so far in Dunedin, and addresed some w ords of counsel as to their conduct to the students. The serious business of the day was charmingly diversified by a choice selection of music The pupils who took part one and all acquitted themselves in a manner that afforded practical proof of the educational value of the musical examinations held by the board. The rendering of the different items afforded all present a genuine treat, and the efforts of the young performers were rewarded with, appreciative demonstrations. The following constituted the programme: — " Elesjie " (Chaminade). Miss Brenda Stock: " Ya'se Viernoise" (Graham P. Moore), Miss Audrey Stock: '"Romance in F" (Beethoven), Master G. T Schacht ; " Scherzo in B flat minor" (Chopin), Miss Ethel Wadie ; "Spring flowers" (Gade), Mi.-,s Christina Barr : "Concerto for two pianos'' (Chaminade), Misses Winnie Wmtson and Ethel Hay; song. " Aye Maria" (Mascagni). Miss Cicely M. Gardner ; "Study of Velocity" (Moskowaki), Miss Luzetta Matthews "We understand that in consequence of ilia circumstances alluded to by Professor Sale, with reference to separate examinations having been granted, Mr A. Hamilton has resigned his position as local representative of the Royal Academy of Music and -he Rcval College of Music.