RECEPTION TO MISS BETTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18975, 28 March 1924, Page 5

RECEPTION TO MISS BETTS

MUSICAL DIRECTRESS AT GIRLS’ COLLEGE. A WARM WELCOME. Three months ago the Board of Governors of the Wanganui Girls’ College were discussing the appointment of a new musical directress for that institution, and Miss Betts was pursuing the even tenor of her way in the musical world of London. Last evening a reception was given in the large sitting room of the College,, and Mins Betts was the guest of honour. Mrs D. McFarlane, Miss Cruickshank and Mrs Wickham were the hostesses, and the large gathering was thoroughly representative of the public of Wanganui, and included many members of the musical and educational professions. Mr D. McFarlane, chairman of the Board of Governors, in a brief speech, extended a hearty welcome to Miss Betts. But it was not so brief as, nor more cordial tran, the welcome that Miss Betts received on her. arrival at Auckland, when Mrs Wickham, with a simple, cheery “Hullo,” hailed the stranger to our shores. Mr McFarlane hoped that Miss Betts would find as warm hearts in this part of the British Empire- as at Home, and concluded by saying that the people of Wanganui would extend to her every hospitality. Miss Betts, in replying, was received with applause. She expressed her thanks for the warm welcome that had been extended to her, and said that although only a week in Wanga. -u, she already felt very much at home. Miss Betts referred to the wonderful strides that music had made in Eng-t land during'the pest twenty years, and for which the war had been .esponsible. Previously, foreigners had had .possession of the musical world of London, but the war prevented the Continental musicians from coming, and it was discovered that Britain had plenty of singers, pianists, and violinists of the highest grade. There was a school of musicians in England who had founded a new movement. They were men and women of the highest ideals, who taught the principle of “music without tears,” and made a great success of it. The gramophone was also used, and was now recognised as one of the finest educational methods of teaching music, and of gaining musical appreciation. Children from ten to sixteen years of age were very carefully trained with the idea of making them love music for the rest of their lives, instead ot hating it. Miss Betts expressed the opinion that the teaching of music, and ill that it means, was of vital Importance. It should not be a dull routine. There was a huge amount of musical talent in the Girls' College. She was also going to form a college choir, which would practise for the pleasure of it, and in the girls’ own time. Already there were 120 names down to join. Miss Betts, who is an L.R.A.M. silver medallist, and Highest Award R.A.M., then delighted the audience with her playing of Liszt's Eighth Rhapsody, and, as a recall, D’Albert’s Gavotte. Other items were rendered by Mieses Harden, Hughes-Johnston, Scott, Greenwood, Mrs. Ivo Symes and Mr. Will Hutchens. Miss Davies was accompanist.