ALAN LOVEDAY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22518, 28 September 1938, Page 6

ALAN LOVEDAY

MAYOR ENTERTAINS BOY VIOLINIST SUBSCRIPTION LIST OPENED IN CITY , Alan Loveday, the New Zealand boy violinist, was entertained at afternoon tea by the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane) in the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. Mr H. F. Herbert, chairman of the Christchurch committee which is raising money for the fund for sending Alan Loveday to New York to study, said that the young violinist had been given credentials, not only from leading New Zealand musicians, but also leading world musicians. Among them was the leader of the Budapest String Quartet, of international reputation, who expressed the opinion that he was the most promising young violinist he had heard in all his travels during the last 18 years. Lawrence Tibbett had been most impressed by the performance of the boy, and had said that there was definitely a place in the world for him. Alan Loveday was now 10 years old and it was essential that he should be placed under one of the leading musicians at once, and acting\on the advice of Mr Tibbett it had been decided to send him to New York at the end of the present i year. There he would study, it was hoped, under Louis Persinger, the renowned teacher of Yehudi Menuhin, or with Georges Enesco. or Arthur Hartmann, all teachers of international reputation. Mrs Loveday would accompany Alan, and they hoped to be away for at least three years. The fund was being raised, Mr Herbert continued, by friends throughout the Dominion. Committees were now working in Christchurch and Dunedin and were being formed in the other main centres. The original committee in Palmerston North had £6OO in sight. The aim was to raise a minimum of £ISOO, which wopld be vested in national trustees and expended by them in the boy’s maintenance and musical education.

A public subscription list was opened by the Mayor. The secretary of the committee (Mr K. G. Archer) reported that already more than £4B had been received in donations, as well as £2O that had been sent to Palmerston North. Donations could be sent to the City Treasurer, or the secretary of the committee.

“ MOST GIFTED YOUNGSTER”

DR. J. C. BRADSHAW’S VIEW

ALAN LOVEDAY PLAYS TO ROTARY CLUB

"It must be obvious to anyone that his natural gifts are very great Indeed, and I have no hesitation in saying that he is the most gifted youngster I have ever heard,” said Dr. J. C. Bradshaw, Professor of Music at Canterbury University College, when paying a tribute to Alan Loveday, the noted New Zealand boy violinist, after the latter had played three numbers at the Christchurch Rotary Club’s luncheon yesterday. Dr. Bradshaw said that he was

confident that any support given to the boy would be fully justified. “We have with us in Alan Loveday a proven genius,” said Mr F. C. Penfold, introducing the boy violinist. The Budapest String Quartet, Richard Crooks, and Lawrence Tibbett, who had heard the boy play, had predicted a world future for him. He had now arrived at a stage when it would be advantageous to him to go overseas and study under the world’s leading violinists. The selections played by Alan Loveday, to pianoforte accompaniment by Mr Noel Newson, were:—“Le Canari” (Poliaku), “Mazurka” (Musin), and Jig and Hornpipe Medley.” The techmque, range, and sympathetic and brilliant interpretation displayed by the violinist were thoroughly appreciated by the members of the club, who accorded him warm applause.