THE NELSON SCHOOL OF MUSIC.

Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 8746, 21 December 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE NELSON SCHOOL OF MUSIC.

PUPILS 1 'CONCERT. DISTRIBUTION OF OERIIFICATES. There was a numerous audience at the Theatre Royal on Dec, 14 on the occasion of the annual concert by pupils of the School of Music, and when, examinations having been concluded, certificates were presented to the most successful of the pupils. For the ooncert the programme bad evidently been drawn up with a view to introdaoing to a public audience as many of the pupils as was possible, and to enable those present to judge by actual performances as to the quality of the work that is being done. Thus the audienoe wera afforded.an opportunity of listening to several young vocalists, but last night tbe instrumentalists whose names appeared on the programme were confined to these who have devoted their attention to the pianoforte aad the violin. Of the vocal eolos, the first were by Mies A. Kidson^who Bang Harthan's " Wiezenlied,",and Bohm's " My Lover is a Weaver," and who, in addition to possessing a sweet voioe, gave proof of careful training, her articulation being particularly clear, and her style admirable. Miss E. Fell was afforded an excellent opportunity of displaying the remarkable flexibility of her voioe in a waltz song. Miss Hunt sang Chaminade'e song "The Bird's Noel" which, gave full scope for the display of her rich voice and artistic methods. A demonstrative encore proved how well she succeeded. Mr C. Maginnity sang Bohm's song "In One Year" with commendable care, and Miss Pratt sang with great taste a song by Mozart, and another by Franz' " Tho Woods." The first part concluded with a quartette " Moonlight" by Eaton Faning, in which the Misses Pratt and Pitt, Messrs Ellis and Maginnity took part, and the concert concluded with a ladies' part song by Gustave Ernst from Harry Stuart, in which sixteen young ladies sang, Herr "Handke conducting. Both performances merit praise. Of tbe instrumental performances we may first refer to tho-e on tbe violin. Tbe Misses Graham and Gibba performed a beroeuee for two violins by Sobubert; Mi«s M Shone, a nocturne, Op 32, by Chopin ; and Miss Littlejoho, Goltermaun's "Le Bdve." and the performances were admirable. The ooncert opened with a pianoforte solo Rondo Brilliante, Op. 62 (Weber), by Miss Leveatam, whose expression and style generally were mooh admired. Master Rout, a very small lad, played a Fantasia by Haydn with considerable ability for bo young a pupil. Miss Healy's performance— Andante and Rondo Caprioioso (Mendelßßobn) -evinced oarefal Btudy and prsotioe, and the duet for two pianos " Valee Oarnavalesque " (Ouaminade) by Miss Kempthorne and Mr T. ttoort was an admirable performance iv excellent time. Pbesentation of Gbbtotoathb. During the interval Mr Pitt asoended tbe stage, and said it was the custom for one of the Trustees to present tbe certificate? and say a few words as to the progress and possibilities of their institution at their annual concert. On that ooaasion he bad been asked to perform this duty. As to the present position of tbe School of Music he would Bay a few words. The School was oommenoed in the second term of 1894 with 63 pupila, and the number increased to 92 when they lost their first ' Principal, who was now, he was pleased to cay, coming to the front in London. Tbe Trustees then appointed Herr Handke,—(applause) — and owing to delay, no doubt, the number of pupils fell to 62, but as evidence of tbe efficiency of tbe present staff, and the interest which tbe public took ia the iogti*

tution, he was pleased to state that the number of pupils was now 114. (Applause.) They had been fortunate in seourinß the services of Herr Handke, who, judging from the progress of the pupils, was in every way ft ttd for the position of Principal, and he ventured to predict that the school would continue to prosper (applause). They were fortunate in having such a lady as Mrs Houlker (applause) as teacher of vocal music t a lady to whom they were all indebted for having raised the musical taste in Nelson— they had had evidence of the proficiency of , her pupils. They were also fortunate in securing Miss Jackson as teacher of the pianoforte (applause). The number of pianoforte pupils had increased so considerably during the year that they had considered it necessary to appoint another teacher, aud then they were equally fortunate in scouring the services of Miss Melhutsh (applause). The staff was a very complete one two of the members had studied at the Gonservatorium, Leipzig, and two others under leading musicians of Europe. There was no wonder then that the School had oontinued to prosper, and it would still continue to do so he was sure. With suoh a staff < there was no wonder tbe Principal was able to report success at the elimination just oonolude'. Herr Handke bad not only been able to report tha* the pupi s had exhibited derided mueioal tact •, but that tbe teaaMng was equa to that at Leipzig or tha higher musioal sohools in England, and that as far as the examinations went, ons young lady, Mi?s Eidson, had equalled what was demanded of profess onals. The iiv terest shown by tbe poblio in their concert that night would euoouraga the Trustees in their desire to see a chord ball provided in Nel?on for tbeir oonoert*. The Trustees had in view the obtaining of suob a hall, and he hoped their efforts would be supported by the pubic, and that dm ing the coming year such a hail would be provided. The School of Mv io had done muoh to encourage a mueioal taste, and he learnt from Herr Handke th.-t he ooneideed ibe people of Nelson &b appreciative of good musio es those of any place in the Colon j. Ha had alro to mention that Heir Harjdke reported that he was well satisfied with the progress made by the young men in their study of orchestral instruments, and that wa? the more eatisfiotory as their avooations and reoreatnns were not "such as might be expeoted to tend to the deftness requi.vd for stringed ins'ruments — rowing and football were not calculated to give them suih deftness, 'ihe CBrtifioataa ha was about to present must not ba mistaken for tha School of Music diplomas whioh oould not he issued till tbe Eohool had been in existence three ye irs. He then ex* plairjed tint the value of the certificates rose from 1 tc 3, but that the mark A indicated a pass with distinction. Mr Pitt then presented tbe certificates a? follows : —

Piano, First Degree (Sonatina by Beethoven or Rondo by Datsek ; major and minor softies) : Miss Winifred Gibson, Misa Eva Hobden, Mies Doris Lightfoot, Maßtcr Richmond Fell, Mas er Jobn Fox Bell, Maßter Vernon Ront (and eptcial mention), Miss Hilda Ladley, Miss Ida Faulkner, Miss Eihel Hall, Misß F orence Jones

Piano, Second Deques (firet movement from Sona'a No. 6 by Beethoven; Polacca by Biller ; soales contrary motion legato and staccato ; eight reading on 3 piece very easy) : Miss Olive Mills, Miss Emily Allport, Misa Kate Ensor, Miss Nellie Enright, Mss Theresa Fair (and speoial mention), Miss Minnie Bail c, Miss Jean Bai'.ie (and sprcial mention), Miss Annie Taylor (and special mention), Miss Phyllis Fell, Miss Daisy Gray. Puso, Third Degree (R^ndo Brillante by Weber ; second movement fr jm fconata Jso. 6 by Beethoven ; soales in contrary motion in 3rd and 6th legato and staccato arpeggios ; one easy piece Bight leading) : Miss Ma'garet Healy, Mias Netta Ltvst-tam, Miss Dorothy Oatley, Miss Edith Ktm,4horop, Mis 3 Mabel Maginnity, Master Thomas Scott, Miss Netta Hotneby, M sa Julia Wiight.

Bisoihg, Second Degbke (Soprano, " May dew " (Bennett; ; scales and arpeggios : Miss Daisy Gray. Altos (" Sunshine and Rain" (^lumenthal) ; scales arpeggios) : Miss Jessie Norman.

Singing, Third Dkgreh (Soprano, " With Verdare Clad " (Creation) ; scales, arpeggios, intervale, one piece eight reading): Miss Kathleen Fell (special mention), Mies Maud Pratt, Miss Annie Kidson (and epecial mention). AUob <" 0 lhou that Telleet " (Messiah) ; scales arpeggios, interval?, one piece sight reading): Miss Clarice Hunt, Miss Minnie Pitt, Miss Emily Smith, Mies Minnie Crouoher.

Violin, Thibd Degbeh (Barcarolle by • c pohr, or Adigio from Sonati No 5, Beethoven ; soales through 3 octaves, one piece sight reading, easy) ; Miss Louise Littlcjobn, Miss Isabella Graham, Miss Maud Shone.

Violin, Second Degbek (Nocturne by Field ; eoalea through two ootaves ; tatervals through four positions : Miss Millicem Boor, Arthur Scott. Violin, Fibst Degbee (one easy piece ; scales through one octave) : Arthur Rutherford. Theoby, Fibsx Class : Thomas Scott. Number of pupils for each subject per term since the commencement : —

Kaoh reoipient of a certificate was greeted with epplauße, and at tbe oocc'usion of tbe presentation the ooncert was resumed.

1894. 1895. 1896. Term Term Term 2 3 123 12 3 Pianoforte .. 31 HO 49 52 40 42 73 84 Singing . . 18 23 32 34 29 19 32 43 Instruments } 1G 19 27 27 28 15 28 29 Orchestral J Theory .. 44 35 27 19 12 0 4 11 Total no. of }G3 Gl .8 4 90 92 G2 97 114 nunils I