THE COMPETITIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 458, 20 May 1932, Page 12

THE COMPETITIONS.

Choirs Compete at Civic Theatre. RECORD ATTENDANCE. A record attendance was present at the Civic Theatre last evening, when the Competitions were continued. It is confidently hoped by the executive that, with normal transport facilities again available, the public will patronise the festival with the usual enthusiasm. The item of most interest on last evening’s programme was the contest for church choirs. Both in the test anthem and the own selection, hymn, the singing was of a high standard, and was warmly applauded by the audience. In addition to the decided classes, the following sections were heard: Humorous Character Sketch and Vocal Duet. The Irish Reel was a non-recall class. The Junior Scholarship, open to either sex, was won by a boy, Master James Smith. The judge of the elocution, Mr Clement May, Wellington, remarked that he was pleased to award the first prize to the only boy recalled, because it was imperative that men should be able to speak correctly. Mr Will Hutchens, Wanganui, judge of the vocal section, pointed out that the average voice is either a baritone in men or a mezzo in women. It was a mistake to train a voice beyond its natural range. Referring to the contraltos heard in the present festival, Mr Hutchens complimented the singers on the exceptionally high standard attained. This meant that many really good voices, which, in other centres, would be considered excellent, were forced to be overshadowed by the actual winners in their classes at this session. "Well-Blended Choirs. The two choirs that appeared in the contest' were remarkable for the general purity in the blend of voices. There was an occasional distortion of tone, due to one section or another singing slightly off the pitch, and the reason for this, no doubt, was that a slight forcing for the sake of volume left the singers just a trifle sharp. In the andante passages, the reverse, was sometimes the case, but both errors were soon rectified when normal volume was resumed. The winners, Knox Presbyterian Church, gave conssitently devotional renderings in both their anthem and hymn. Like the other choir, Shirley Methodist Church, Knox showed to better advantage in their own selection, and although the anthem was interpreted with skill and tasteful expression, the hymn gave them fuller opportunity to display many accomplishments in phrasing, attack and release, balance and a general attention to the minor details. Knox choir sang unaccompanied and without music. Both the conductors carried out their duties capably, and extracted many little touches from their singers that added beauty to several passages.

Character Sketches. Variety was lacking in the character sketch for men or women. Shakespearean characters were not permitted in the conditions for entry in this class, but there must have been other vast resources from which a suitable subject could have been chosen. Dickens, for instance, would have yielded a character with plenty of scope for the performer, as would many other classical novelists. Some of the excerpts presented were largely meaningless to many in the audience, because, as excerpts, they were incomplete, and needed purpose to make them convincing. Tne selection of the winner. Miss Hazel Shier, was fairly complete in itself, and its story became clear early in the piece. Miss Shier had to speak in broken “ Engleesh ” to portray Annette, and, except for one or two lapses, kept her “ patois ” even and typically vivacious. Like the winner, Misses Audrey Watson, second, and Molly Fowler, were characteristically attired, and both showed remarkable dramatic and emotional capabilities. The winner of the Competitions Society’s Scholarship, for boys or girls, eleven and under sixteen, was Master James Smith, who competed against twenty-four girls in the preliminaries, and three in the finals. Considering the usual advantage girls have over boys in singing and elocution, Master Smith deserves praise for his rendering of “ Blow, Bugle, Blow.” He should pay a little more attention to some of his vowel sounds, but with his promise he should overcome many such obstacles. Vocal Solos. A performance, outstanding for its consistency, was given by the winner of the vocal solo with own accompaniment, man or woman. Miss Bertha Rawlinson, in addition to possessing a fine contralto voice, was an accomplished pianist, and combined these two talents in a most satisfactory manner. Miss Madge Brown, second, had chosen rather a difficult song, “ The Tryst,” but her handling of the piece was fairly good. Miss Dorothy Sligo, after playing some of the chords in “ Waiata Poi ” with a slight uncertainty, finished her effort after only one verse and refrain had been sung. The standard was fairly high in the sacred solo for mezzos, open class. The winner was Miss Winifred Bruce, who had a good voice, although her production was sometimes faulty, resulting in a slight hardness. The second prizewinner, Miss Florence Sumner, succeeded fairly well in imparting a devotional air to her song. The other competitor, Miss Myrtle Wraight, made a slight slip, and it was a few bars before she picked up the theme again. A pleasing range of lower register notes was noticeable in the English song for contraltos, won by Miss Bertha Rawlinson. Miss Myra Sutton, second, used an expressive voice, and her diction was generally clear. A slip in the words spoiled an otherwise enjoyable rendering of “Fislier-lad,” sung by Mrs R. E. Yoller. Dancing Classes. The subjects chosen for the barefoot dancers, under ten, contained many pitfalls, and the exhibitions suffered in consequence. As “Autumn,” Miss Audrey M’Nish put a pretty finish to her movements, and her pointe work was good. She was the winner, and Miss Peggy Hart, who also gave a dainty performance, was second. Miss Sylvia Gunther, considering her age, “Sprirf d , ,cre<lit for ller presentation of The Egyptian dance, thirteen .and over, produced three clever finalists. Facial expression and make-up were details that could have received more attention than they did. The winner Miss Gladys Rose, was graceful and her costume was appropriate. Miss Eunice howler, second, made a good entrance but her dance became monotonous by Naylor thirteen 81 *'” s - dance for children' under ld!„?!F or V s of f h ,® four fl'naHsts provided > variety. Miss Billie Addis, „ w i,' 1 ■ Save a n animated performs/js j' Miss Elsie' Brand, second place, used some bright steps, and the other two girls. Misses Norma Smith and Jean M Resulu"— WCre alS ° lnte ‘‘e“ins VOCAL SOLO. Accompanied by seif. Man or woman. Miss „ Bertha Rawlinson (Dunedin), ar c ?i n - 801 l Ring," S 3 points . . 1 Miss Madge Brown (Christchurch), ... The Tryst,” 79 points 2 Miss Dorothy Sligo (Dunedin), “Waiata Poi,” 78 points 3 JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIP. Boy or girl, eleven and under sixteen. (a) Boys. “Blow Bugle, Blow”: girls "Jo Sleep.” (b) Own selection! Thirty-two entries. Master James Smith (Limvood), (b) ' Pilgrim Fathers,” total 163 points 1 BAREFOOT DANCE. Under ten. Ten entries. Miss Audrey M’Nish (Riccartcn), “ Autumn,” S2 points 1 Miss Peggy Hart (Lin wood), “Clouds,” 7 2 point« 2 Miss Sylvia Cunt hot (Woolston). “Spring,” 6i) points 3

SACRED SOLO. Mezzo. Open class. Eighteen entries. Miss Winifred Bruce (Ashburton), “ How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings,” SO points 1 Miss Florence Sumner (Dunedin), “There is a Green Hill,” 79 2 points 2 Miss Myrtle Wraight (Dunsandel), “ How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings,” 7S points 3 Highly commended: Mrs D. E. Pearce (Avonside), Mrs D. E. Turnbull (Bankside), Misses Delcia Philpott (Riccarton) and Linda Mills (Merivale). CHURCH CHOIR CONTEST. Sixteen to twenty-six voices. (a) Anthem, “ God is a Spirit ” (W. S. Bennett). (b) Hymn, own selection. Two entries. Knox Presbyterian Church, (b) “Oh, the Bitter Shame and Sorrow,” (a) SO points, (b) 83 points, total 163 points 1 Shirley Methodist Church was the ether competitor. IRISH REEL. Any age. In teams. Six entries. Miss Muriel AVaugh’s School of Dancing. 85 points 1 Aliss Muriel AVaugh’s School of Dancing, SO points 2 Aliss Mavis Neate’s School of Dancing, 77 points 3 EGYPTIAN DANCE. Thirteen and over. Ten entries. Aliss Gladys Rose (Linwood), S 4 points 1 Aliss Eunice Fowler (Christchurch), 80 points 2 Aliss Letty Naylor (Christchurch), 79 points j 3 Highly commendc * Afisses Thelma Preece (St Albans), %ella Prisk (Woolston). ~ CHARACTER SKETCH. Alan or woman. Not Shakespearean. Eight entries. Aliss Hazel Shier (Riccarton), “Annette’s Pleading,” 91 points 1 Aliss Audrey AVatson (Dunedin), “ Medea,” S 9 points 2 Aliss Molly Fowler (Christchurch), “ Camilla,” 88 points 3 Highly commended: Misses Freda Collogan (Temuka) and Isobel Al’Gregor (Dunedin). STEP DANCE. Suitable for musical comedy. Under thirteen. Twenty-five entries. Miss Billie Addis (Christchurch), 92 points j Aliss Elsie Brand (Richmond), 77 Points 2 Alisses Norma Smith (Papanui) and Jean M’Lachlan (Riccarton), 7 6 points, equal 3 Highly commended—Misses Orma Ford (Timaru), Audrey M’Nish (Riccarton), June Anson (Linwood), Pat Gregory (Sydenham). ENGLISH SONG. Contralto. Open class. Sixteen entries. Aliss Bertha Rawlinson (Dunedin), “ When I am Laid in Earth,” S 4 Mis-s Alyra Sutton (Lyttelton), “Sea J AVrack,” 83 points 2 Airs R. E. Voller (St Albans), “ Tlie Fisher Lad,” 81 points 3 TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMME. To-night’s programme at the Civic Theatre will include piano solo for Beggs scholarship; junior recitation, girls, eight and under twelve; barefoot dance, ten and under thirteen; vocal scholarship, women, twenty-one and over; ballet, twelve and over, fifth section; humorous character sketch, final section; character story dance, any age; sacred solo, tenor, open class; barefoot dance, thirteen and over; vocal duet, man and woman, final section; Seam: Truibhais, ten and under thirteen; humorous recitation, men, own selection.