COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL OPENS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17834, 30 April 1926, Page 5

COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL OPENS.

LARGE ENTRIES PROMISE WELL FOR ENSUING WEEKS. The sixteenth annual festival of the Christchurch Competitions Society was commenced this morning. Until May 19 t.be Caledonian Hall and St Luke’s Schoolroom will be filled with the voices of men, women and children upraised in song, the lilt of violins, the tinkling and drumming of pianos, and will see recitations, dancing and all the events which the competitions put before the Christchurch public. The programme this year is extensive and full of Interest. Tt contains songs pathos 'in 'the* scope of its recitations. plishments of the great composers, and includes dancing among the events. The competitions promise well this year. Despite the rain, there was a fatr attendance to hear the first day's trials this morning, both at the Caledonian Hall and St Luke’s. At the hall the opening event was a piano duet for children, in which twelve competed. A contralto vocal solo followed, concluding the offering for the morning. At St Luke’s a ladles’ recitation was the morning offering. Proceedings went off without, a hitch. competitors taking thdr places with clockwork regularity-. The smoothness with which matters worked, on the first day, was a tribute to the efficiency of the organisation which the officials had effected. In the afternoon the Caledonian Hall was devoted to vocal solos, and St Luke’s to recitations. To-night, following the official opening ceremony at the Caledonian Flail, the day’s final trials will be conducted, and also there will be a song in character for boy or girl, piano solo under twenty-one and eighteen or over, and a quartette of male voices. The judges this year are:—Vocal and instrumental, Mr IT. Barry Conev (Auckland): elocution. Mr Culford Bell (Wellington); and dancing. Miss Gwen Gibbs (Wellington). Mrs H. J. Beck is the official accompanist, and Mr IT. Sweney occupies the position of stage manager. The following were the results and recalls this morning:— PIANO DUET. (Thirteen and under sixteen, own select tion.) Recalls. Miss Thelma Cusack (Burwood) and Master Noel Newson (St Albans), “Norwegian Bridal” (Grieg). Miss Dorothy Williams (Spreydon) and Miss Muriel Williams (Spreydon), “Rhapsodie Hongroise” (Liszt). Miss Mavis Roi (Christchurch) and MTss Jessie Walker, "Figaro” (Mozart). Other competitors were:—Miss Joan Cusack and Mias Edna Richards. Miss Iris Harper and Miss Marjorie Nelligan, Miss Morva Thomas and Miss Dorothy Arthur, Miss Marjorie Alexander and Miss Lesley James, Miss Jean Hore and Miss Manu Lockwood. Miss Mercy Cooper and Miss Lynda Loy, Miss Freda Anderton and Miss Olive Beck, Miss Marjorie Laybourne and Miss Alice Chapman, and Miss Dulcie Fye and Miss Winifred Barrett. VOCAL SOLO, CONTRALTO. (Own Selection.) Recalls. Miss Gertie Langrldge (Spreydon), "It is the Sunset Hour.” Miss Elsie Muxiow (Dam pier'9 Bay), "Hark What I Tell to Thee.” Miss Mavis Wright (Sydenham), "O Divine Redeemer." Other competitors were:—Misses Nina Penberthy, Elizabeth Vass, Myrtle Hopkins, Janet Denholm, Eileen Erwin, Ellice Reay and Rhoda Down. RECITATION, LADIES. ("The Downs," R. Bridges.) Recalls. Miss Mollie Gallagher (Dunedin). Miss Enid English (Woolston). Miss Mavis Ritchie (Christchurch). Other competitors were:-—-Misses Gladys O’Connell, Hazel Shier, Myra Edwards, Phyllis Neil, Veronica Bagrie and Ruby Boot. READING AT SIGHT, LADY OR GENTLEMAN. Mr A. A. Johnson (St Albans), 78 points i Miss M. Gallagher (Dunedln>, 72 points 2 Miss Gladys O'Connell (Sydenham), 70 points 3 Other competitors were:—Miss Jean Murchle and Mr J. F. Cannell.