NEW ZEALAND TALENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 31, 3 July 1939, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND TALENT

CENTENNIAL MUSIC AND PLAYS A SERIES OF COMPETITIONS Some important decisions were made at a meeting of the National Centennial Music Committee on 2lst May. Here is a summary of the resolutions: A conductor and musical adviser from England will be appointed and made available by arrangement with the Central Gommittee during the months February to June, inclusive, 1910. An orchestra will be made available by arrangement with the Central Committee. It is intended to assemble a Centennial choir of sixty voices from all parts of the Dominion and to perform in the four centres by arrangement with the Central Committee. Choir competitions will be held in each centre, culminating in a final competition in Wellington. These competitions should be carried out before the end of March. The winning choir will sing in other centres. Prizes: First £125; second. £50; third J * £25. Four principal singers—soprano, contralto, tenor and bass —will be engaged and made available for conccrt work a,nd for leading parts in chorol work by arrangement with the Central Committee. Chamber music competitions for string quartets will be held in tho centres; the final one will be in Wellington. Prizes: First, £50; second £25. If possible, an opera will be presented in the centres, the principals to be provided by the Central Com. mittec and small parts and choruses by local committees. A Maori musical festival is being arranged. Dramatic competitions for production of one-act plays will be held in each centre; the final will be in Wellington. Prizes; First £50; secon'l £23. Music and dramatic festivals will be held in each centre at stated periods during the months of May 2nd June, 19-10. The Centennial choir, orchestra and principal singers will be available. The dates suggested are: Auckland, Bth to 2l»th May; Christchurch, 22nd May to 2nd June; Duncdin, sth to 16th June; Wellington 19th to 30th June. The dates to be chosen for Auckland, Chnsr.churcli and Duncdin, will be by consultation between local committees and the respective member of the Central Committee. Financial assistance will be avail, able for winners of local competitions to journey to Wellington lor finals. In cases where the musical celebrations arc arranged as part of the Centennial celebrations, it will ijc competent for the appropriate organisation to subscribe to the cost of the celebrations from its Centennial Accou-nt, which is subsidised to the extent of £1 for £3. The allocation of any profits shown as a result of music festivals will be determined later. There will be four competitions for original works; (a) Orchestral com. position; (b) choral compositions: (c) one-act stage play; (d) radio pl.av In each case the first prize will b* £70 and the second £30. The closing date for all entries will be 31st October. Entries for these four competitions are restricted to (a) Persons resident in New Zealand who* were born in the Dominion or who arrived in New Zealand before attaining the age of ten year-,; (b) Persons born in New Zealand who lived in the Dominion j until attaining the age of sixteen years. but who are now living, abroad: (c) Persons born outside New Zealand who have resided in the Dominion for 20 years; (d) Persons born outside New Zealand who arrived in New Zealand before attaining the age of ten years, and lived in the Dominion until attaining the age of twenty years. The rules and conditions of all com petitions may be obtained on application to the Head Office, National Broadcasting Service. Wellington, or any station ol the National Broad, '■asting Service, or to the l»ene; v "i Secretary, Centennial Branch, Department of Internal P.O. Box 7, Government Buildings, Wellington. . - i'