TAIERI COMPETITIONS

Evening Star, Issue 22451, 23 September 1936, Page 16

TAIERI COMPETITIONS

THIRD SESSION OF FESTIVAL MANY DELIGHTFUL PERFORMANCES There was again quite a good attendance in the Coronation Hall, Mosgiol, last night on the occasion of the third session of the Taieri Competitions Festival. The programme consisted of national dancing, juvenile recalls from previous sessions, vocal solos, and oneact plays. The Rev. Mr Sansom presided. There were excellent entries for the dancing, tho judge being Miss G. Munro, Pipers Chirnsid© and Mackenzie supplying the music. The oneact plays were delightfully staged, and proved very enjoyable. Seven entries were received in all, but four have been reserved for to-morrow night’s programme. At the close of his remarks last night, Mr Adam, the judge of the vocal and instrumental music, congratulated the committee on the excellent manner in which the competitions were being conducted. To-morrow’s programme will consist of piping music, tap and operatic dancing, adult elocution, and character sketches and plays, and a final demonstration concert will take place next Monday. NATIONAL DANCING. Highland Fling, local competitors only, 10 and under—Rae Garland 1, Adelene Shea 2, Noelene Gale 3. Sis entries. Sean Triubhais, under 15—Lorraine M'Pherson 1, Margaret Steven 2, Audrey Ramsay 3. Fourteen entries. Irish Jig, under 15—Alma Metcalf 1, Morna Greaves 2, Lorraine M‘Pherson 3. Eleven entries. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. Piano Solo, 18 and over—Miss K. Smellie 1, Miss D. Tait 2. The only entries. Miss Smellie played a beautiful opening. The rhythm was not steady, but the expression was good. Miss Tait’s rhythm was not always sure, and more contrasts could have been made of the tempo. ELOCUTION, Miss Leonore Mackenzie, judge of the elocution sections, referred to a number of the classes as follows; The four playettes were all very enjoyable, but difficult to judge, because of the difference of ages of the players. ‘ The Gipsy’s Treasure ’ wars well staged and acted, and the children all suited the parts. ‘ The Fairy Riddle ’ was most artistically staged and costumed, and was a credit to the producer. The voices of the little girls, however, were not always audible. ‘ The Diamond Brooch ’ was a good performance of a more difficult selection, and the team work was good. ‘ Catherine Parr ’ was suitably costumed and staged The characters were -well maintained, but as it was all dialogue it lacked the unity of the winning play. The placings were: ‘ Diamond Brooch ’ 1, ‘Catherine Parr ’ 2, ‘ Fairy Riddle ’ 3, ‘ Gipsy’s Treasure ’ h.c. Action Song, in character, under 16 —June Donaldson 1, Daphne Marr 2, June Tregilgus 3. The winning performance was an interesting one, though some actions were rather stiff. The judge counselled _ this competitor to watch her enunciation. The second placed competitor had a good matkeup,. but did not sustain her voice at the end of phrases. The third prize winner was the best characterisation of this class, hut was outclassed by others in voice.

Character Sketch, under 16—June Tregilgus 1, Agnes Holland 2. Character Sketch, juvenile—Miss Agnes Holland 1, Miss June Tregilgus 2. The costume, character, and makeup of the winning competitor, “ Dolly Varden,” were very good. She gave an interesting and animated performance. The movements were very graceful and effective. The second placed piece, The Invalid,” was a very pretty scene. When the curtain rose it revealed a nice picture. The competitor could have been clearer in places. It was a suitable sketch lor a little girl. VOCAL MUSIC. Vocal Solo, ladies—Miss Marion Duncan 1, Miss Esther M. Brown 2, Miss May Martin 3. Miss Duncan gave a very nice performance. Miss Brown’s solo showed good quality of voice and expression, but a certain amount of slurring was noticeable. Miss Martin possessed a nice voice, but lost pitch. Vocal Solo, gentlemen—Mr J. 11. Bennett 1. Mr Robert Gordon 2. Mr Bennett has a good quality voice, and gave a good performance, but his delivery was somewhat jerky, and he showed a slight loss of pitch. Mr Gordon’s solo was lacking in colour, though a nice performance. DRAMA. One-act Play, 30 minutes, open to any local institute, club, society, lodge, firm, or similar organisation. Seven entries.—The following competed last night:—North Taieri Bible Class No. 2 (‘ Aunt Deborah ’), East Taieri Tennis Club (‘ Mrs Ogbody Obliges ’), and Noith Taieri Bible Class No. 1 (‘ The Old Bull ’). BRASS SELECTIONS. Mr E. Kerr, who judged thfe brass band instrument selections, gave an extended report of his judging. He spoke of the need of correct articulation in the production of good tone. The one was inseparably connected with the other. Tone was tho basis of all good playing. While there was a good deal of promise in tho performances of the competitors, there was noticeable a tendency to faulty entrance at the opening of each movement. Nervousness, naturally, lias something to do with this, but a proper production of the note will in a large measure tend to obviate this fault. Mr Kerr spoke of the beneficial effect these competitions must have on the playing of the band. They demanded home practice by the members, and that in itself was a great aid. The danger lay in the bandsmen paying too great attention to the solo to the neglect of the practice of band work. It was only fair to the conductor that tho players should first study the interests of the band by practising any band selections in rehearsal.