SCHOOL CHOIR FESTIVAL

Chronicle (Levin), 4 November 1946, Page 3

SCHOOL CHOIR FESTIVAL

SUCCESSFUL FUNCTIONS HELD A combined sch()'ol choirs' festival was held durmg the past week. On Tuesday,. Octpber 22, they presented their programme at Tokomaru, on Thursday, ' October 24, they were at Shannon and on Thursday,. October 29/ at Foxton. In each town visited the choirs met outstanding succeSs and halls were filled to cap'acity. As an experiment, the fuhctions must be proclaimed as .most successful, and the whole district will look forward to the festival b'ecoming an annual The schools taking part in the festival were Tokomaru producing 20 voices, Shahnon 40 and the Foxton District High School 40 voices. The conductor was Mr. T. E. Douds, L.T.C.L. ' The proceedings commenced with the singing of the combined choirs of "Song of the Music Makers," "Fairy Counterpanes," "Lilli Burlero" and "Spanish Ladies." Following this the individual schools took the stage and provided their own entertainment. The Shannon choir contributed "The Wish," "Nymphs and Shepherds" and "Bonny Moorhen," foh lowing which -the audience was treated to a dcmonstration of a percus.sion band, a modern adjunct to educational training. Very well. exccutcd recitations were given by Pat Lee. A tap dance duo was presented by Jocolyn Moore and Dawn Scott. The choir again took the stagc for "Santa Lucia" and "Don Oiovanni's Minuet," the latter with actions. •• The local school staged a very good performance and every credit must be given to the teachers who gave so much hard work and time to training the children. Tokomaru were next to entertain and the smaller school specialised in piays and skctches, all of which were very good. They comprised "The Return Half," "Late," '-'The Invalid" and "Buying Gloves." All were executed in good voice; while Nola Boswell provided an Irish Jig in costume. The Foxton District High School choir sang "Land- of My Fathers," "All Thro' the Night" and "England" most tunef'ully to open their portion of the programme, followedby piano solos by Frahces. Battersby, a vocal nuniber by Heather McKenzie and thc" choir finally contributed "On "Wingfe . of Song" and "The First Noel." "A highlight of the evening wa§ the appearance of the Foxton Junior Band/ under the conductofship of Mr, W. Wilkinson. A round of applause. greeted" .the boys and their items were received with great appfovai. Their programme included the . march, "Ingomar," and, the waltz, "Semplice," while K. Wiikinsbn contributed a euphonium solo, "The Holy City." As a fitting flnale the massed choirs of approximately 150 voices took the stage aiid rendered "Heav'n Boun' Soldier," a Negro spiritual, "If Fortune had made me the Master," "Rocking," a Czech carol, and "Sally Brown," a shanty. The stage appearance of the choirs and the bands was excellent and it was evident that considerable effort and care had gone into the training and fehearsals individually at the schools and as a combined unit. The entire performance was particularly well conducted, and was put through with amazing precision considering the large number of performers to be handled and stage preparations required for the different sections.