ESTABLISHED 25 YEARS AGO

Southland Times, Issue 25488, 7 October 1944, Page 6

ESTABLISHED 25 YEARS AGO

INVERCARGILL MALE CHOIR The Invercargill Male Choir will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its foundation this year. The occasion will be marked by a recital in the Civic Theatre on Tuesday night. The decision to form a choir was taken at a meeting on November 12, 1919. Those present at the meeting were Mr J. E. Taylor, who is regarded as being the founder of the choir, and Messrs R. J. Caldow, S. Wootton, J. K. Campbell and J. Bewley. Later, as a result of inquiries, it was ascertained that 52 singers were prepared to join the choir, and it was then decided to call a general meeting which was held on December 4, 1919. The following office-bearers were then elected: President, Mr J. E. Taylor; vice-presidents, Messrs R. T. Caldow and S. Wootton; treasurer, Mr J. Waugh; secretary, Mr J. Bewley; committee, Messrs J. M. McCrostie, M. Stevens, J. K. Campbell and P. A. Pearce; conductor, Mr William Quinn; deputy-conductor, Mr J. E. Taylor; pianist, Mr A. C. Mclnnes; librarians, Messrs J. M. McCrostie and E. Sutton; test committee, Messrs William Quinn, J. E. Taylor and R. T., Caldow.

The first public appearance of the choir was in May 1920 at the civic reception to the Prince of Wales and on October 13, 1920, the first recital was presented in the Civic Theatre, the soloist being Mrs L. S. Alsweiler. It is interesting to note that the soloist at the recital on Tuesday will be Mrs Alsweiler’s daughter, Miss Mavis Alsweiler. • CONDUCTORS OF CHOIR

During 1924 and 1925 Mr Quinn was not available as conductor and as there was a shortage of tenors the choir was in recess, but annual meetings were held and office-bearers appointed to keep the choil’ in existence. Mr Quinn died in 1925 and the following year Mr B. C. Galloway was appointed conductor. The outstanding performance during his term as conductor was the combined recital given by the Dunedin Royal Male Choir, the Invercargill Male Choir and the Invercargill Orchestral Society in the Civic Theatre on October 1, 1932, when “The Desert” was presented. In August 1933 Dr Stanley Brown was appointed conductor and continued to occupy that position until the end of the 1941 season. As a mark of appreciation of his services Dr Brown was appointed an honorary life member at the last annual meeting of the choir. The present conductor is Mr A. Walmsley. During the 25 years of its existence the choir has presented 42 recitals and has given many concerts in country districts. Four combined recitals have been given with the Dunedin Royal Male Choir. Hospitals and the Borstal Institute have also been visited. The names of 308 members and former merbers appear on the rolls of the choir. Messrs W. H. Farley, J. M. McCrostie, A. Adam and P. A. Pearce have had 25 years’ unbroken membership in the choir. Messrs A. Mahoney and D. J. Wesney are also foundation members. Mr McCrostie has served on the executive of the choir for 25 years. Eleven members are serving with the New Zealand Forces.