BLIND MINSTRELS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 538, 15 December 1928, Page 6

BLIND MINSTRELS

INSTITUTE PRIZE-GIVING TOUR OF BOYS’ BAND “You will all agree that the blind are neither hopeless nor helpless, and that given the opportunity of training they are most capable people," said Mr. A. J. Hutchinson, chairman of trustees of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, last evening. Guests numbering several hundreds, who had pupils of the institute school sing and play and recite and had seen them receive certificates for swimming distances up to half a mile, recognised the truth of the chairman’s statement with applause. The School held its annual breakingup ceremony last evening. A tea party was held first and a dance followed the concert and the prize-giving. Chief among the musical numbers of the concert were those of the Boys’ Band, just returned from a triumphant tour of New Zealand. The 14 players seem to need no visible conductor; they know their parts perfectly and combine with excellent effect. Mr. Clutha N. Mackenzie, director of tho band, outlined the recent tour, which, he said, had raised £I,OOO in gross receipts. It had been a tremendous success due to the splendid help received everywhere, but principally to the team work and spirit of the boys. The band first went to Hamilton and the big audience there put heart into tho players. At Wanganui the concert was also a great success, the cheerfulness of the players winning all hearts. The only wet day of the tour was at Invercargill. One of the most successful concerts was at Hastings, where 1,400 people were seated, 200 stood and 500 were turned away. At Wellington where a week before 44 people had turned out to a big concert, 1,500 came to hear the band. Some of the players, including Joseph. Papesch, had helped with church services at Hagley Park in Christchurch. About 4,000 people heard the Sunday afternoon concert. The proceeds of the tour would be to help in the extension of musical activities.

After the concert, Mr. Hutchinson presented the prizes, and praised the scholars for their efficiency. He al§o congratulated Miss Mary B. Law, the headmistress, and Miss Alice Law, the musical mistress, on the work they had accomplished. The concert programme was as follow:

March, “Le Retour,” band; piano duet. Little Patriot March,” Rena Bedogni .Connie Whitford; recitation, “Elizabeth s Christmas Presents,” Ruth Edser: song, “Our Amateur Band,” The Jubin Juvenile Trio; piano duet, “Qui Vive?” Misses Blanche MacKenzie and May Bray; part songs, (a) “Gipsy Song,” (b) “Song of the Wind,” school choir; piano solo, Prelude in G Minor (Rachmaninoff), Miss Lillian Martin; recitation, “Disobedience,” Rena Bedogni; vocal duet, “My Boat is Waiting Here for Thee,” Blanche Mackenzie and Eunice Hawkins; cornet solo, “Love’s Old Sweet Song” (with band accompaniment). Lionel Voice; part song. Swing Song,” school choir; recitation,

“Trouble on the Steamer,” Rob Martin; organ solo, “Fugue in C Minor” (Mendelssohn), Miss May Bray; song, “The Trumpeter,” Joseph Papesch; march, “Washington Greys,” band.

The prize list was as follow:—For best all-round work in and out of school: Upper division, Tom Taylor; middle division, Rena Bedogni; lower division, Stansell Pender. For best musical progress: Blanche MacKenzie Robert Martin and Frank Caple both passed the intermediate Trinity College examinations with honours.