THE COMPETITIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18465, 17 May 1928, Page 10

THE COMPETITIONS.

CLASSES CONTINUED. The attendance at the Concert Chamber last evening, when the Competitions were advanced a further stage, was again very satisfactory. The programme was well varied, with musical items predominating. The main item of the day was the elocution scholarship. The class produced a very high standard of performance, seven of the competitors scoring over 160 points. A very close contest between Miss Hilda Scurr and Miss Margaret Seel ye, both of Dunedin, resulted in the. former gaining the judge's decision by the narrow margin of one point. Results (with judges’ comments) were:—• BAREFOOT DANCE. Under Sixteen. (Open only to those who have not won a first prize prior to these com petitions.) Freda Manhire (Riccarton), 79 . ... 1 Mollie Fowler (Christchurch),: 77 .. 2 Kathleen Serine (Opawa), 76 3 Unfortunately none ~of the competitors had given the most important point of the classical dance—the classical walk. Miss Serine had put operatic steps into her dance—a bad mistake. Miss Fowler had not chosen a good selection, but had given a good performance. Miss Manhire showed a wise selection, and her dancing had been dainty, simple and graceful. CHARACTER DANCE(Under Nine. Not National.) Daphne Buchanan (Christchurch), “ Dancing Doll,” 80 1 Pat Gregory (Sydenham), “Coster Boy,” 79 -2 The winner had given a very good performance, the pose and steps being excellent. Master Gregory had certain faults, but the judge admired his per formance. RECITATION. (Girls fourteen and under sixteen. “ Annetta Jones.”) Lily Kinsella (Woolston), 84 1 May Murrow (Timaru), .82 2 Miss Murrow is an artistic reciter but her voice faded a little at times. She failed, as did most of the competitors, to bring out the little touches of humour in this piece. Miss Kinsella was a little too heavy at times, but gave a good performance, RECITAL WITH MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT. (Gentlemen. Not humorous. Own selection. Marks awarded for own accompaniment.) Mr Noel Newson ,(St Albans), “The Game of Life,” 86 1 Mr Norman West (Dunedin), “Playmate,” 85 2 Mr R- R. Wills (Linwood), “ Lure of Little Voices,” 84 3 Mr Wills improved in his evening performance. The winner gave good combined effect, but the piece lacked modulation. He scored through play* ing his own acompaniment. ELOCUTION SCHOLARSHIP. (Ladies or Gentlemen, 16 and under 21*. fa) “The Young Bather.” (b) Test Recital.) Miss Hilda Scurr (Dunedin), 85, 93, total 178 1 Miss Margaret Seelye (Dunedin), 89, SB, total 177' 2 Miss Kathleen Chappie (Addington), 89, 86, total 175 3 Highly commended (over 160 marks) —Miss Alice Chapman (Sydenham), Miss Dessa Stabb (Dunedin), Miss Ivy Fowler (Christchurch) and Miss Joyce Houtd (Dunedin). Interpretation was an important thing in reciting, and many competitors failed in this respect. Many competitors jeopardised their chances ‘of success by choosing over-long pieces. Miss Chappie gave a very good performance, and her test piece was given with a nice tone. She was a very artistic reciter. Miss Seelye gave the test piece with artistic rhvthm. She was a very promising elocutionist. Miss Scurr had given a brilliant rendering in the first section, and had gained 93 marks—the highest the judge had yet awarded. The three competitors gave very nice and pleasing performances. RECITATION. (Gentlemen. “Pacific Coast.” Open only to those who have resided in Canterbury six calendar months prior to May 1, 1928, and who have not won a first prize at this or any similar competition.) Mr Harold Shaw (St Albans), 89 . . 1 Mr J. P. Darragh (Opawa), 88 .... 2 Mr G. F. Soutter (Christchurch), 83 3 The first two competitors gave very nice performances. The third was not quite so good. The winner had a nice subdued voice and created quite a good atmosphere. PIANO SOLO. (“In a Gondola.” Sixteen and under eighteen.) Noel Newsome (St Albans), 93 .... 1 Miss Edna Penhalluriack (Riccarton, 89 -2 Miss Marguerite Minson (Merivale), 87 3 Miss Penhalluriack had given a very sweet beginning, and her notes were very clear. There was considerable artistry in her reading. The winner had created a beautiful atmosphere and had given a very sympathetic touch. The reading was fluent. OPERATIC OR DRAMATIC SOLO. Contralto. (Own Selection. Open Class.) Miss Anita Graham (Christchurch), “O Mio Fernado,” 91 1 Miss Dorothy Lawrence (Christchurch), “Ye Powers That Dwell Below,” 88 2 Miss Ella Dailey (Riccarton), “My Heart is Weary,” 86 3 This was not a very strong section in the preliminary. Miss Lawrence had beautiful words, and her expression had warmth and feeling. Miss Dailey had a voice of splendid quality with vocal colour. The winner had a beautiful quality of voice and splendid variety and resource of tone. SACRED SOLO. (Girls under Sixteen.) (Own Selection.) Nancy Bishop (Ashburton), “The Lord Ts My Light,” 91 1 Audrey Thompson (St Albans), “ Out of the Deep I Call,” 88 . . 2 Lu Kiddell (Spreydon). “ How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings,” 86 3 Miss Kiddell had a pleasing quality of voice with variety of tone. A very promising singer. Miss Thompson had a voice of attractive warmth and quality, her words being very clear. The winner had a voice of splendid material. with good words and good dramatic sense. ENGLISH SONG, Soprano. (Modern. Own Selection. Open Class.) Miss Irene Seymour (Cashmere), “ A Woman’s Last Word,” 9,5 1 Miss Ailsa Nicol (Wellington), “The Poet’s Life,” 94 2 Miss Eileen Grennell (Christchurch), “ O Lovely Night,” 93 3 A very interesting section in which some very good work was done. Miss

Grennell showed artistic restraint and was sincere. The winner had attractive quality of voice, the intonation being very good. She had resource and variety to a remarkable degree. Miss Nicol had given a splendid rendering. OPERATIC DUET. (Ladies or Gentlemen. Open Class. Own Selection.) / Miss Marjorie Nelson (St Albans) and Mr L. C. Quane (Christchurch), “II Trovatore,” 90 .... 1 The only competitors. JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIP. (Boys. (B) Own Selection. Not f Humorous.) Recalls: Lester Moiler (Dunedin), “The River’s Tale.” Malcolm Rickard (Linwood), “Called Up” Jack Wilton (Linwood), “The West Wind.” PIANO duet: Owing to a mistake in the programme, it was stated on Saturday that Misses Joy Dennis and Muriel Williams (Rangiora) had secured first place in the Piano Duet, class 12 and under 16, own selection. The winners were Misses Joy Dennis and Muriel Matthews (Rangiora).