MUSICAL AND ELOCUTIONARY COMPETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1085, 25 March 1911, Page 7

MUSICAL AND ELOCUTIONARY COMPETITIONS.

• Sir,—l notice by your-issue of yesterday that tho council of the .Wellington Society of Professional Musicians has decided to actively oppose tho movement to establish musical competitions in Wellington, and also that the society subsequently approved tho action of tho council. 'J.IIO reason given for the attitude taken up by tho music-teachers is that these competitions,. aro not in the best interests of music. It is all very well to mako this statement, but it is not convincing enough. Will tho teachers pleaso show in what way tho competitions would bo detrimental to music? It is a remarkablo fact that it was loft to tho Wellington teachers to discover that musical competitions aro opposed to the best interests of music, for in Dunedin and tho other centres in New Zealand, and also in Ballarat, tho music-teachers are not only in sympathy with the competitions, but, in most instances, are actively encouraging tliemi Every year tho teachers aro busy training their pupils for tho different vocal and instrumental items, and in many instances it is at tho request of a teacher that a pupil, enters tor competitions. I cannot see how such competition can 'in any way detrimentally affect tho art of music, but I can see many ways in which music would bo benefited by it. The competitions create a healthful rivalry between different members, of tho community, with the result that each competitor studies and practises moro than otherwise would bo tho case, and their status in music undoubtedly benefits to that extent. Then again it is often entirely duo to these competitions that a person with exceptional talent for pianoforte playing or singing is brought to light. Hero is a case in point: Somo timo ago a young lady resident in Goro entered for a song in the Gore competitions, and slio was specially marked by tho judge as a coming vocalist of somo note. The direct result of this is that slio has been studying and practising ever since, and sho has so developed her singing powers that recently Madamo Dolores, when in Gore, asked the young lady to sing before her, and she was so delighted with her voico that she subsequently requested her tq sing again in Dunedin. Jladamo Dolores has given her good advice, and who can tell what tho outcome will lie? This is entirely due to the young lady entering for competition in tho Gore Society. I am afraid, sir, I have trespassed a geed deal 011 your spaco, but I was anxious to show the possibilities thero are before anyone who enters for such competitions. I trust that a Wellington Competition Society will bo successfully formed, for I. firmly believe it would bo of immense benefit to tho citizens. —I am, ctc., » SUPPORTER.