MUSICAL SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18904, 20 January 1927, Page 8

MUSICAL SOCIETY.

NEW CONDUCTOR. CIRCULAR TO MEMBERS. The chairman of the committee ef the Royal Christchureh Musical Society, Mr T. Andrews, jun., has issued the following circular to members, relating to the conductorship:—

"The financial year of the Society, 1 which closes on December LUst, is al- j ways preceded by a committee meeting to decide upon the conductor for the coming year, and according 10 the rules he holds office for one year. At a committee meeting held on the 20th ultimo, Mr T. V. Griffiths, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music, who has been appointed by the Education rVard lecturer in music in the public schools in Canterbury, was elected to the position of conductor of the Society for the year 1927. "Mr Griffiths conies l » us with excellent credentials, including references from the Rev. S. Senior, M.A.. F R.G.S'., headmaster .St. John's College, Cambridge, Dr. W. S. Barley, master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, the Rev. Canon Burnsido, headmaster St. Edmund's, Canterbury, DiE. J. Horner, F.K.C.0., Director of Examinations, Trinity College of Music. "Mi- Griffiths is » young man, and full of vigour and ambition, besides being an organist, pianist, lecturer in music, and teacher of voice production, and equally successful in conducting oratorio and opera. The position he has vacated to come to New Zealand was senior music master, organist, and. choirmaster, senior gepgraphy waster and assistant history master, St. Edmund's School, Canterbury, England. "The majority of the committee considered that a (jrastio change was es- j sential to revive the Society, and endeavour to raise it to the high standard that existed 'in Pr, Bradshaw's time. Dr. Bradshaw was approached to see if he would accept the position f ol ' 1927, but -unfortunately for the (Society we were unable to secure h' s services owing to his time being fully occupied. "The Semety !ms Jgst subscribers-and performing members; a comparison «s here given:— Sub. Chorus. Dr. Bradshaw's time. 551 180 Mr Butler's time ... 425 156 Present time ... 280 85 ''We have received numerous congratulations for the step that we have fakem and we feel assured that our action will be endorsed by the musical people of Christchureh, end we feel jn tlje near future that our Soolety will regain its high standard as it did in Mr Wallace's and Dr. Bradshaw's period. With Mr Griffiths as our con, ductor, and in view of the completion of the new concert hall, the committee anticipate a now era of prosperity for the Society. . ''A. requisition signed by ten members pf the Society has been received, requesting that a meeting be called for J&nu'arv 26th, as the appontment of Mr Griffiths is stated to be not pormli>r with some members of the chorus."