MELBA SCHOLARSHIP

Southland Times, Issue 22508, 16 February 1935, Page 5

MELBA SCHOLARSHIP

NEW ZEALAND GIRL’S SUCCESS.

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) Melbourne, February 15. Miss Hinemoa Rosier, a 20-year-old New Zealand girl, won the Melba bequest scholarship from an entry of fifty. Twelve finalists faced the judges. Miss Rosier came from Auckland last February, studying at the Conservatorium under a special scholarship. Mr Fritz Hart, director of the Conservatorium, described Miss Rosier’s voice as a dramatic soprano and said it was the best at the Conservatorium since Florence Austral.

In the hope that a worthy successor might be found to replace her, the late Dame Nellie Melba left a bequest in her will to found this scholarship, which is derived from the income from £BOOO. It will be awarded annually, being tenable for a period of a year. Under certain conditions an extension may be made of one or two years.

The successful candidate will study at the Melbourne Conservatorium. where she will receive tuition under a special diploma course. Singing, theory or harmony, counterpoint, musical form and analysis, history and aesthetics of music, interpretation of works, rudiments of music, ear training, choral work, languages, and physical training will be among the subjects of the course, which the Director of the Conservatorium may add to as he thinks fit. The chief study teacher of the Melba School of Singing will personally supervise the singing. Except that the scholarship is available only to women over 17, there are few restrictions placed upon competitors. They need not be of Australian birth. There is no particular work set for them, and they may choose their own songs. Voice and general musical promise are the qualities that are looked for.