THE COMPETITIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20625, 28 May 1935, Page 6

THE COMPETITIONS.

Junior Choirs Draw Large Attendance. FIXE PERFORMANCES. The Civic Theatre was packed last evening, when the first concert of the final week was given. Attendances usually begin to increase during the final few days, and those present last night were treated to a programme of exceptional excellence. Twenty-one classees remain to be decided before the final night. The outstanding item on the programme last evening was the junior choir contest, in which five choirs, drawn from local primary schools and Rangiora, competed. At the conclusion of the class, the judge of the musical sections. Mr Will Hutchens, Mas. Bac., Wanganui. led the combined choirs in the test song. Mr Hutchens said that, class for class, the singing was as good as any he had heard in Australia or in other parts of New Zealand. The vocal scholarship, presented by the society for competition among girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one, was won by Miss Phyllis Round, whose singing received warm praise from the judge. Results were as follows: ENGLISH SONG. Soprano. Open class. Ten entries. Mrs Gordon Morrow (Somerfield), “ To Daisies,’* 83 points 1 Mrs Harold Cordery (St Albans), ** Cherry Ripe," 82 points 2 Miss Adelaide Allchurch (Timaru), “ Where the Bee Sucks,” SO points 3 Highly commended: Misses Muriel Hartle (Christchurch) and Margaret Mitchell (Dunedin). ** This was not a large class, but the good choice of songs compensated somewhat for the paucity of the entries,” said the judge. “ The recalled competitors sang very well. The winner gave a beautiful rendering of a difficult song, and she showed a good conception of the thought behind it. Mrs Cordery showed good vocal artistry, but her tempo was too even at times. Miss Allchurch sang very sweetly and naturally. Her rhythm was ‘pulled about’ in some passages of the music.” JUNIOR CHOIR CONTEST. Open to schools or any choir of juvenile voices, maximum number forty, age limit sixteen years. (a) Two-part song, " O, the Summer ” (C. Taylor) ; (b) two-part song, own selection. Winner to receive cash prize and Messrs Chas. Begg and Co.'s challenge shield. Five entries. Villa Maria Junior Choir, (b) “Westland,’’ 163 points 1 ; St Joseph’s School Choir was second in points, although no second prize was awarded. The other entries were from Tom Thumb Tootlers' Choir, Sumner Junior Choir and Rangiora Juvenile Choir. The judge expressed his pleasure at the high standard of the singing. His detailed remarks on each choir were as follows:—Tom Thumb Tootlers—Tempo in the test too fast. Fortissimo and piano almost identical. Better balance in the own selection, but time a little wrong.. Very good attention to the youthful conductor. Sumner Junior Choir—A good steady opening. Sopranos too strong at times. Good feeling for expression. Softer treatment of the own selection. Villa Maria Junior Choir—Nice round tone and good attention to markings on the copy. Excellent precision and accent. Excellent spirit. St Joseph’s School Choir—Altos showed excellent tone. Even tempo and good spirit. In the own selection, the altos flattened a little, but the general balance was good. Rangiora Juvenile Choir —Tone a little hard. Good phrasing and a spirited rendering. Good attention paid to conductress. In the own selection, balance generally good and a pleasing spontaneity of style. Mr Hutchens also thanked the children for the way in which they behaved when he was conducting them in the massed choir singing. BALLET. Under twelve. Operatic, six to twelve performers. Seven entries. Ivy Fowler School of Dancing, 80 points •• • * Bessie Macdonald School of Dancing, 79 points 2 Very highly commended: Gladys Bushell School of Dancing. The judge of the dancing sections, Mrs R. Triggs, Timaru, said that the standard was not what she expected. However, the winning ballets were notable for their fine setting and arrangement. OPERATIC OR DRAMATIC SOLO. Contralto. Open class. Six entries. Mrs Rhys Morgan (Papanui), “O Love, from Thy Power,” 78 points 1 Miss M. Howden (Port Chalmers), “Mignon’s Song,” 77 points .... 2 In his remarks on the singing in this class the judge said that the level was not very high. One of the singers in the preliminary hearing sang in the wrong pitch and one sang flat in the final. There seemed to be a lack of operatic instinct. , VOCAL DUET. Man and woman. Own selection. Six entries. Mrs J. Colthart (Christchurch) and Mr Clive Hindle (Cashmere), “Calm, Silent Night,” 82 points 1 Mrs Harold Cordery (St Albans) and Mr Bruce Deighton (Christchurch), “Calm, Silent Night,” 80 points 2

“Songs for duets are not always chosen wisely,” remarked the judge. He added that an absolute essential was for the voices to be of the same colour. If une was bright and the other dull, the result could never he satisfying. The fact that so many of the competitors had chosen the same song made the task of comparison easier. The placed performers gave cultured rendermSS" VOCAL SCHOLARSHIP. Girls sixteen and under twenty-one. (a) Test solo; (b) own selection. Winner to receive society’s scholarship, value £6 6s. Twenty-seven entries. Miss Phvllis Round (Beckenham), (b) "'Hark What I Tell to Thee,” 164 points 1 Misses Nora Cairney (Richmond) and Grace Nixon (Christchurch) were the other recalled competitors. Mr Hutchens declared that he was greatly interested in this class. He had recalled two mezzos and one contralto. His decision was based on the future possibilities of the voice, and his task in this respect was most difficult, as all the finalists showed great ability and promise. CHILDREN’S ACTION CHORUS. Under fifteen. Sixteen to twenty-four voices. In costume. Two entries. Ivy Fowler Scliool of Dancing, "The Toymaker’s Dream,” 71 points . . 1 The soloist’s voice was too weak to be heard above the tapping of the dancers’ feet, said the judge. The dance was well arranged. In the other item the voices were not always in unison and the actions were uneven. In addition to the completed classes, sections of the following classes were also judged:—lnstrumental trio, own select’on. first section; humorous character sketch, man or woman, eighth section; operatic dance, sixteen and over, first section: ballroom dancing. third section; one act play, seventh section. Additional Awards. The following are additional highly commended awards in classes which have already been judged:— PIANO SOLO, twelve and under fourteen, "A Frolic” (Iris de Cairos-Rego)— Miss Mary Miller (Riccarton). Master John Norman (Linwood), Misses Ruth Hazel line (St Albans) and Jean Read (St Albans). SONG FOR BOYS, eight and under twelve, own selection—Master Fred Hayes (Riccarton). To-night’s Programme. To-night’s programme in the Civic Theatre, commencing at 7.30 p.m., contains the following items:—lnstrumental trio, own selection, second section; English song, mezzo, open class; operatic duo, any age, third section: vocal solo and accompaniment, woman vocalist; chief piano solo, man or woman; ballet, twelve and over, first

section; humorous character sketch, man or woman, ninth section; song in character. man or woman, fifth section; character duo, twelve and over; dialogue, adults, third section; vocal solo with obligato, man or woman, third section; ballroom dancing, fourth section; one act play, eighth section.