THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Star, Issue 24284, 27 August 1942, Page 2

THE COMPETITIONS

OFFICIAL OPENING WORK OF SOCIETY LAUDED Congratulations- on inaugurating another festival were extended to tne Dunedin Competitions Society last night by tile mayor, Mr A. H. Alien, when no officially opened the forty-first annual festival. The society’s reward this year was an increase in competitive entries to the number of 200. Ho paid a tribute to the work of the society, which had a cultural value for young people, aud was an excellent moral force in that something useful to do in their leisure time was g.veu boys and girls. Considerable latent ability had been discovered in Dunedin as a result of the festival, and to this the teachers bad contributed much by the quality ot their teaching. in this connection the Mayor expressed regret that the city had already lost the valuable services of Dr T. Vernon Griffiths, and was about to lose Miss Mavis Macdonald, who was shortly to leave tor a college at Masterton. Behind the society’s functioning, said the Mayor, was an enthusiastic band which comprised the executive who planned throughout the year, and they were backed by the voluntary financial assistance forthcoming from commercial interests. In this regard the City Council, recognising the society’s value, had again this year granted it the sum of £SO. The president of the society, Mr W. 11. Sinclair, who was chairman for the evening, introduced the judges, and extended thanks to the audience, and to the competitors, many of whom came from outlying districts, for their support. He also thanked all those who in any way contributed to the success of the society. The principal events on last night’s programme were the schoolgirls’ choir contests, in which two choirs from St. Philomena’s Collegiate School were heard. As has been the case in the past, these choirs were praised by the judge. Miss Ethel Taylor’s pupils presented the first of the children’s action choruses, ‘ Blue Danube.’ During the afternoon the own selection section of the Melba song contest was heard, 15 competitors appearing before the judges. This class was to have been a scholarship contest in which the winner was to compete at the Wellington competitions, but the abandonment of the Wellington festival has caused the Dominion contest to be given up. The first prize of £lO 10s, which was to have gone towards- paying the winner’s expenses in Wellington, has now been divided into two, making a first prize of £7 7s aud a second of £3 3s.

Considering the extent to which ’flu and colds are in our midst, tho first day attendance of competitors was remarkably good. Of 221 entrants only 15 tailed to turn up. Following are the results yesterday afternoon and evening:—

VOCAL. Judge- Mr H. Temple White,

Juvenile or School Girls’ Choir: Unison «ong, ' Ripple on a Lake ’; two-part song, 1 A Fairy Boat.’ —St. Pholomena’s Collegiate School, 79 and 78 points, 1. The only competitor. Secondary School Girls’ Choir: Unison song, ‘ Love is Meant to Make Us Glad ’; two-part song, ‘ Jolly Shepherd.’—St. Philomena’s Collegiate School, 83 and 86 points. The only competitor. The judge expressed regret that there were not 'more entrants in these sections. War conditions could not be blamed for the lightness of support from schools. The work had been very good,. showing finish and refinement, with good intonation and tone blend.

Burns Song, own selection. First prize, £1; second, 10s (donated by Dunedin Bums Club). —Miss Gertrude Ardagh (Christchurch), 85 points, 1; Miss Clara Rouse, 83 points, 2; Miss Margaret Pratt, 81 points, 3. Highly commended: Misses Pat Woods, Phyllis Turne- Nineteen competitors. Tenor Solo, ' Isobel ’ (Bridge).—Mr R. W. Watkins, 74 points, 1; Mr Max Sutherland (Morton Mains), 73 points, 2. The only competitors. The singers had promising voices of light calibre, said Mr White, and with further training should do well. They failed to achieve the impassioned climax of the song, however. Judge; Dr T. Vernon Griffiths. Song for Girls, under 13. l On Wings of Song’ (Mendelssohn), Second section. — Nola Brown, 84 points, 1; Alma Johnson, 83 points. 2; Patricia Stewart, 82 points, 3, Highly commended: Aileen King, Betty Webber, ' Raewyn Lamb. Commended: Leonore Madigan Fifteen competitors.

ELOCUTION. Judge. Mr Errol Muir,

Recitation, 10 and under 12; open; own selection (not humorous). —Nial! O’Sullivan, 82 points, 1; Neville Madden, 81 points, 2; Alma Johnson, 80 points, 3. Very highly commended: Flora MacDonald, Lorna Patrick Highly commended: Morgan Fahey, Raewyn Lamb, Joan Mclnnes, jjrian Parke. Thirty-four competitors. Recitation, girls, 12 and under 16; own selection (not humorous). —Glenna Smith, 78 points, 1; Winnie Sanderson, 77 points, 2; Mary Hopewell (Christchurch J 3. Very highly commended; Audrey (Christchurch). Highly commended: Elaine G. Angelo, Patricia Campbell (Milton), Aima McAllan, Nola Sutherland. Thirty-live competitors , NSTRUMENTAL Judge: Dr T. Vernon Griffiths. Piano Solo, Bach selection; open.—Miss 11. Ferry (Invercargill) and Mr James W. Dixon, 84 points, 1 (equal). The ouly competitors “It is a pity that there were not more entries in this section, as the study of Bach has so much musical value,” said Dr Griffiths. “ The two candidates gave satisfying performances.” Piano Duet, 12 to 16; ' Poet and Peasant ’ (Suppe).—Joy Stewart and Jack Whitworth 86 points, 1; Vera Patterson and Lorna McDonald (Oamaru), 85 points, 2; Frances and Irma Lynch, 84 points, 3. Very highly commended: Meryl Lemin and Helen Logie. Highly commended: Elizabeth Hay and Rona Jackson, Elaine Robinson and Patricia McEvoy Commended: Lois Webb and Isobe! Leftwich. Eleven duos competed. The Judge said it was pleasing to see so many entrants in this section, for duet playing was very helpful from the point of view of rhythm and in preparation for the playing of chamber music.

DANCING. Judge- Miss Kathleen Mathews.

Demi-Character Dance, 16 and over.— Miss Joan Walsh, 90 points, 1; Miss Betty Keen, 83 points, 2, Miss June Pringle, 81 points, 3 The only competitors. Ballet Dance, toe; under 14.—Evelyn Butterworth, 89 points, 1; Helen Fraser, 87 points, 2; Coleen Pinlin, 86 points, 3. Highly commended: Eileen Healy. Eleven competitors The class was a disappointing one, remarked the judge. Most of the competitors attempted to do things which were beyond them

Ballet Dance, operatic, other than toe; 16 and over.—Miss Joan Walsh, 89 points, 1; Miss June Pringle, 88 points, 2; Miss Pamela Page, 87 points, 3. The only competitors. Ballet Dance, operatic, other than toe; 13 and under 16.—The recalls, to be taken tonight. were R.e f n Cook and Alan Cropley.

UTILITY POULTRY CLUB The August meeting of the Dunedin Utility Poultry Club was well attended. Mr E P. Anderson spoke on preparing the house for pullets, stressing the fact that it should be well disinfected and left to air for a week or more. It was a grout mistake, he said, to put young stock into a house that had just been vacated by old birds. Mr Anderson explained the use of nesting materials, litter, feeding, grading, and handling and culling of pullets. The comparatively new strain known as “ Welsummer ” was described by Mr F. Pollard who exhibited two fine specimens. The breed originated in Holland in the little village of Welsum, and in 1922-23 step s were taken to set a standard for these birds. Since then they had made a name for themselves in England, both as show and utility birds. The speakers wore accorded a vote of thanks for their interesting talks.