THE COMPETITIONS

Southland Times, Issue 20228, 13 July 1927, Page 4

THE COMPETITIONS

The festival of the Invercargill Competitions Society last year was so successful that the expectations for 1927 have been high, and there is every reason for believing that these hopes will be fulfilled. Each year latterly has seen a growth in the number of entries in the important sections, and the keenness of the competition has produced some really excellent work. It is, therefore, to be expected that the various classes in the coming festival, particularly in the vocal section, will be stronger, and this probably is due to the good impression made by the musical judge, Dr. Galway, of Dunedin, who is returning to adjudicate again. In the elocutionary classes there will be a similar inducement, because the return of Mr Culford Bell is sure to inspire in the younger competitors that confidence which is essential to contests of this kind. This year the Competitions Society is introducing some new features, which will make the festival more attractive to the public. It is hoped that the half-hour entertainments will be more numerous and that there will be more diversity than has been the case in any other year. These competitions have an educational basis, of course, but that term is liberally interpreted, so that it includes items light and airy, but demand, ing as much skill as the classical tests. This will be demonstrated in the half-hour entertainments. Last year the dancing sections were very popular and this year the society has decided to carry the classes further so that they will include modern ballroom dancing. Although there are many who condemn the modern dance, particularly its extravagant forms, the display under the control of the society will be useful in demonstrating the fact that properly executed it can be made as graceful and as attractive as its predecessors. The section for jazz orchestras should also be a diversion

of unusual interest. The entries close this week, and it is anticipated that the interest in the festival, shown in the number of competitors anxious to face the judges, will be greater than that shown in any of the society’s functions since the close of the war.