SCHOOL CONCERT AT MILTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 50, 14 December 1899, Page 6

SCHOOL CONCERT AT MILTON.

On Tuesday, November 28, in St. George's Hall, Milton, an excellent entertainment was given before a packed house. The proceedings opened with an orchestral selection, ' Memories of Erin,' in which three pianos were used. The Convent pupils had assiduously practised for this and the other concerted items, and during the rehearsals had given a good account of themselves. Unfortunately the influenza epidemic made it impossible for a few of them to appear on the evening of the cone rt, but their close application and the excellence attained by them give them a right to special commendation. The young ladies who were entrusted with the pianoforte arrangements were the Misses Suanlan, Iza Leslie, Elsie and Edith Sparrow, C. Wyber, T. O'Neill, and W. McTigue. The other instrumentalists were Mr. H. Marryatt and members of his family, together with Miss Mason, Messrs. Brown, Bryce, and Walsh. The orchestral arrangements were under the direction of Mr. H Marryatt, whose readiness to give his services on all occasions is well known. Another item by the came performers at the beginning of the second part of the entertainment was ' A Highland wreath,' which was given with equal success and heartily applauded. The school children contributed an action song, ' The court of the Empress Shan.' The scene was Japanese, the children being dressed in Japanese costumes, with fans in hand. The effect was very picturesque, the performers using their fans to good purpose in various attitudes A piano duet, ' Linden leaves,' on three pianos, was well received. Mr. J. Mac Donald gave a Scottish recitation. ' 800 l aboot,,' and in response to an encore gave an amusing piece, ' O'Grady's goat.' A piano selection followed, in "which the Convent pupils scored well. The children of St. Joseph's School sang the chorus ' I saw from the beach,' in which the parts were very well sustained. "The next item consisted of a cantata by the school children, ' Little Red Riding Hood's Rescue,' the part of Red Riding Hood being taken by a little girl, Nellie Coleman. who possesses a sweet and sympathetic voice, the othe' soloists being Nellie and Josie Lynch, Bri^id Hanify, and Mary Coleman. The accompaniments were played by Michael Soanlan in a manner that indicated careful tuition, a juvenile violinis-t. Willie Casserly, giving efficient assistance. By way of variety Master Powley trea^el the audience to an Irish jig, which he executed in excellent time and with considerable grace. The final part of the programme was a farce by ex-pupils, ' Cool as a Cucumber,' in which Masters Keogh, McTigue, and Gibson, assisted by Misses Moloney and Lynch, took the several paits The piece went with a good swing from start to finish and provoked considerable mirth: Songs by Miss M. Lynch, Messrs. Scott and J. Orbell, together with a piano solo by Miss Scanlan and a duet by the Convent pupils, which were down on the programme, were unavoidably omitted, partly owing to the influenza epidemic, and partly to a desire that the entertainment should not be unduly prolonged. During an interval the Very Rev. Father O'Neill thanked the audience and the performers, the former for their tjeuerous support to a deserving cause, and the latter for a very pleasing entertainment.