EXAMINATIONS IN MUSIC.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20096, 27 November 1930, Page 9

EXAMINATIONS IN MUSIC.

ASSOCIATED BOARD.

DR. BEACHCROFT'S CAREER.

The annual practical examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal, Academy and the Royal College of Music, London, began yesterday at the Durham street Schoolroom. The visiting examiner, Dr. R. O. Beachcroft, M.A. (London) has altogether to hear 332 candidates and also to mark the examination papers in theory for the whole of New Zealand. Because of the greatly increased entry in all centres of the Dominion, the examination work this year has been -particularly hard, and Dr. Beachcroft has had scarcely a day's rest since he arrived in the Dominion. The examinations at tjw Christchurch centre will continue daily until December 13th.

Greatly Increased Entry. The entries in the different classes arc: — Schools' sections: Primary . . 73 Elementary . . 72 Lower division .. 68 Higher division .. 45 Higher classes: Advanced .. .. 28 Intermediate .. 37 Pinal .. .. 4 Solo performers' certificate (L.A.8.) .. 20 Teachers' (L.A.8.) . • 4

The shortest local centre examination occupies 20 minutes, the teachers' (L.A3.) one hour, and the solo performers' (L.A.8.) 45 minutes. The examiner always visits convents or institutions which can present sufficient candidates to entitle them to be called centres. This year, his only outside examinations will be held at the Ferry road and Leeston Convents. Examiner's Caxeer. A son of Judge F. P. Beachcroft, of the Bengal Civil Service, Dr. Beachcroft was born in the Punjab, India, and was educated at Rugby and at Worcester College, Oxford. He received his musical education as an Exhibitioner at the Royal College of Music, studying under Sir Walter Parratt, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, Mr Franklin Taylor, and Sir Frederick Bridge; and as organ scholar at Worcester College, Oxford, under Sir William Hadow, where he graduated Mus. Doc. For a short period Dr. Beachcroft considered composition a possible career, and was encouraged in this by Sir Charles Stanford and Sir Arthur Sullivan, but later he concentrated ou the educational side of music. He held for many years, until his retirement in 1926, the appointment of Director of Music at Clifton College, also at Clifton and Redland High Schools, and was connected with the Bristol University. Dr. Beachcroft has a wide experience as conductor, performer, and lecturer, also in giving orchestral concerts, producing choral works, and in mass singing. He is now mainly occupied with examination work for the Associated Board of the R.A.M. and R.C.M., both at Home and abroad.