SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 28, 10 March 1914, Page 8

SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS.

TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL TALENT.

There was a fair attendance kt the annual meeting of the Canterbury Society of Professional Musicians, held on Saturday night.. The president, Mr j)avis Hunt, was in the chair. The r<£>ort set out that the membership now stood at 54, six new members having been admitted during the year: The society had ,a credit balance of £64 3/7. Following the request of the Auckland Society of Musicians, it had been decided to approach the Government with a view to improving the singing instruction in the State schools. Mr Arthur Lilly spoke at length, .urging that the time had come for the society to widen the field of its endeavours. It should grant its age to encourage local efforts, so probably finding much talent. Local com•posers should be encouraged, and he suggested an annual prize should be offered this year for a movement in sonata form for the pianoforte. Mr Empson and Mr Macleodsmith supported this, and it was unanimously resolved that the society announce the offer of an annual prize of three guineas for an original composition,, the requirement to be a movement in sonata form for the pianoforte. . The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr A. J. Merton; vice-president, Mr Davis Hunt; members of council, Miss Fairhurst, Mr Ernest Empson, and Mr '■Macleodsmith; treasurer, Mr Sidney Williamson; secretary, Mr Arthur Lilly.