COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16389, 11 July 1927, Page 10

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY

MEETING OF COMMITTEE

A meeting uf tho committee ui< the Competitions Society was held on Frid'jv', tliijjo being present: Rev. L. EI. Fonti (president), Messrs. C. V. Harre, j. Chrisp, 0. Crawsliaw, F. R. Rail, A. C. Tony, A. Stoneham, W. Hamilton Irvine, T. A. Albrecht, U. Blackburn and J!. 15. l'eav.son. An apology for absence was received from Mr. F. J. Kowley.

Correspondence was received from a 'number of outside soures, enquiring for the society's book of words and schedule, an Auckland competitor indicating his intention of entering for the gentlemen's vocal classes, and from au intending dancing competitor from Napier. There aio indications of a fair number of visitors from Hawkc's Bay for this year's lestival, which will make the competitions considerably more attractive both to competitors and public. The entries do not close until July 31, so it is as yet too soon to expect, the entries from outside the district to come in. The number of sales of sheet music by the various music stores indicate good entries in practically all vocal and instrumental music classes, and it is understood that local bandsmen will make a. good showing in tho brass instrumental classes. »-ome discussion has been caused this year by (ho committee's decision to limit the age in the' open elocution classes to IB years or over, and it is regretted that this will adversely affect a few competitors for this year's festival, including one, or two of the most promising ybanger performers. However, these will only be- affected for one or at most two years by the now rule, and on the other hand, it is believed several older competitors in the elocution section will now bo induced to tenter.

Another change m 'the conditions this year is the elimination of the "own selection" class' from (he singing championship, and the substitution of the Scotch and Irish classes for it. The reason for this is that in the past lew years there have been few entries in the contralto and soprano classes, the winner of either of these having an unfair advantage in the matter of points for the championship over those competitors in the much larger mezzosoprano classes.. The above alteration is purely to put' the matter on a fairer basis For all competitors. A slight error 111 tho wording of the schedule for piano solo 10 and under 12 (class 4) may cause some misunderstanding. The wording should be "Fairy Dance, No. 4 of 8 Lyric Pieces," and |iot "No. 4 and 8" us shown.

Tho date of the festival is dow comparatively close, and it was accordingly decided to hold weekly meetings of the committee in future.