THE COMPETITIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17837, 4 May 1926, Page 12

THE COMPETITIONS.

TC-DAY’S RESULTS. The Christchurch Competitions -wore continued at. the Caledonian Hall and St Luke's Schoolroom to-day. Hollowing were the results: — PIANO SOLO. IK and under IS. “Prelude in G Minor” (Rachmaninoff). Recalls: Miss Phyllis Neill, Christchurch. Miss Eileen Grennell, Christchurch. Miss Marjof-ie Childs, Ka.ia.poi: Other competitors were: —Misse-s Ethel- Ranks (Avonside), Iris Thomas (Addington), Verna .Tack (Richmond) and Marguerite Mi'nson (Merivale). HLOCI’TION SCHOLARSHIP. Ladies or Gentlemen. 16 and under 21. (a) ” Tn Romney Marsh.” (b) Own Selection (not humorous). The first section (a) of this event, was decided this morning. Section (b) will be judged on Thursday morning, when the recalls will be announced. SOPRANO SOLO. “ Soi\g “ (Greig). Miss Ailsa ' Nicol. AVefling: ton. Miss D. Lawrence, St Albans. Miss Joan, Lowry, Otaki. Other competitors were:—Mrs Jean Scrimshaw- (New Brighton). Misses Mabel Kaglesomo (New Brighton), Dorothy Shand (St Albans), HI la Skurr (Riccarton), Violet Collins (New Brighton), Ruby Snook (Woolston), Edna Pearce (St Albans). DOMINION RECITATION. Ladles. (Own Selection.) Recalls: Miss Enid English, Woolston, “ Doom of Stephan us.” Miss Maisic Linton, Lin-wood, “ Doom of Stephanus.” -Miss Mollie Gallagher, Dunedin, “The Knight's Toast.” Other competitors were:—Misses Mavis Ritchie (Christchurch), Joan Murchie (St Albans), Phyllis Neill (Christchurch). Nellie Wilkinson* (Shirley). Myra Edwards (Christchurch), Veronica. Ragrie (St Albans) and Eunice Weakley (O.pawa). TO-NIGHT’S CONCERT. Finalists will present a capital programme at the Caledonian Hall this evening, commencing at half-past seven. Recalls will be hoard in the mezzo vocal solo, sacred solo (under sixteen)- and the ladies’ Irish song. Two dancing competitions will see the finalists in the .operatic dance (under twelve) and the character dance (under sixteen). There will be several recitations, including the class for recitation in character (under sixteen), and the final of the men's Dominion test,' “ Dauber.” The piano competition is the final for the “ Prelude in. <x.” The usual morning and afternoon sessions will be held at St Luke’s Schoolroom and the Caledonian Hall toNOTBS AND COMMENTS. From the competitor’s point of view this year's festival is going to be an interesting one. There are no outstanding performers and it looks as if several performers in the vocal and elocution classes will share the prizes. One thing is unlikely, and that is “ poolsweeping ” by any one competitor. So far, the general standard of work among the adults is as high as it. has been at times in the past, but all these competitors are gaining experience and. in a year or so, some of them no doubt will be fitting successors to the few fine artists who have gone before. The elocution sections for men are deplorably weak, and in the ladies it is simply weak. Of course one will have to wait a long time* for elocutionists to take the place of people like Misses Mary Cooley and Anita Winkel, but the time will come. ft ts purely a question of training and experience. The vocal sections arc not amazingly strong either with the men or . ladies. Just for this year there is a state of flux, and doubtless next year there will be adequate compensations for the' apparent shortcomings of this. Still, a good many of the finalists last night were agreeable though not inspired en-

The test recitation for boys between fourteen and sixteen was "The Trawlers,” by Alfred Noyes. It is.a. strong piece of writing and the three boys all gave sturdy renderings. There was a little declamatory breathlessness and absence of subtelty, but still the boys did very well as a whole. The winner, Richard Woodward, was the only one who worked up his climax properly, and this gave him his slight advantage.

The recitation in character under nine was an excellent little section. The

children, entirely unaffected, gave excellent studies of their characters, and they succeeded in the difficult art of self-effacement. In other words they lived their parts. • Clive M’Nell, the winner,‘showed himself -to be a clever little comedian. Ills make-up as the quack doctor was excellent, and his manner of ”,putting across” Ills lines was good. it was really an excellent performance. Kathleen Read and James Humphreys also did fine work.

In the song for girls under twelve, Kathleen Read, although the possessor payt of the hall, so good was her production. The voice was not strained, but perfectly used. If the technical work of many of the adults was as good as hers the result would be much more satisfying. Doris Donnelly and Joan Thomson, who came second and third, each sang their numbers with pretty confidence.

Freda Moir. who won the violin solo, twelve and under sixteen, gave a very sweet rendering of ” Saltarelle.” She was more accomplished on the technical side than the others in the class. Altogether. she was by far the most matured

It was unfortunate that there should have been no more than two entries in the chief piano solo. ” Prelude in P " (Hwinstead >. However, it is unlikely that any other competitors .would have

beaten the winner. Miss Lucy Full wood, who gave a brilliant interpretation of ♦he piece. Her technique -was excellent, and there was fine intellectual quality in her work. She was bold and confident. Miss Eunice Tait. the other starter, did very well, hut she lacked Miss Fullwood's brilliance. Miss Vera Johns, with “Home. Liltle Maori. Home” won the ladies' solo (N.Z. composer). The song is a. fine one. and'Miss Johns, who has a pretty voice, gave a. satisfying rendering. At times she appears to he a little uncertain, but. for all Shat she is an entertaining performer. The recitation (N.Z. author) was not a. strong section, but the winner, Mr A. A. Johnson, gave a sturdy recital of Professor Wall s poem, “•The Pioneers.” Mr Johnson gave th.e rural descriptions svmpat hetic treatment, and lie worked up to a. fine climax. Mr \V. IT. Moses came second, with "The Old Place,” hut his work was not as refined as the winner s. Miss Mavis Ritchie lost marks through her falling inflexion. There were odd flashes of obvious humour ,in the men s humorous recitation section. Mr J. Lester, the winner, gave by far the best number, although that *■ Country J.P." lias been done beThe rest of the class was very