THE COMPETIONS

Evening Star, Issue 24289, 2 September 1942, Page 2

THE COMPETIONS

TWO SCHOLARSHIPS WON EXHIBITION BALLETS ATTRACT Exhibition ballets occupied a prominent place on the programme presented last night in His Majesty’s Theatre, when the Dunedin Competitions Society’s festival was continued, and these no doubt had much to do with the excellent public support shown ,in an almost capacity house. The ballets, all of which were presented by Miss Laura Bain’s pupils, were accepted with enthusiasm. A lb-minute comedy, ' Aunty’s Millions,’ was also presented for entertainment only by Mrs Lance Griffiths’s party. The competitive side of the programme was strong, and included decisions in the gins’ elocution scholarship and the ladies’' vocal scholarship. Both these sections wej-e keenly contested, and in each instance the judges had only praise for the work. The winner of the elocution scholarship was Mary Hopewell, of Christchurch, and the winner of the ladies’ scholarship was Miss Clara Bouse. This is the second time that Miss Bouse has been successful in this class, for she won the scholarship at the 1940 festival. Mr W. H Mackenzie was last night’s chairman. The results were; — VOCAL. Judge; Mr H. Temple White. Ladies’ Scholarship; test and own selection. (Messrs Charles Begg and Company’s scholarship, valued £5 55.) Miss Clara Bouse, 174 points, 1; Miss Margaret Pratt, 173, 2; Mias Pat Woods, 172, 3. Very highly commended; Misses Gertrude Ardagn (Christchurch), Elsie Kirkham. Highly commended: Misses B. A. Herlihy, Lorna Pile, Paulino Gapper, Phyllis Turner, Catherine Stowart (Gore). Twenty-five competitors. This was a very good section indeed, remarked the judge, and it, was difficult to separate the first three, while several of the other competitors were highly placed. “ One would go a long way to hear three such uniformly good artists,” he said. “ They each possessed a good voice, a good platform manner, and good diction. The winner’s voice was of exceptional quality, and she captured the mood of the songs.” Judge Dr T. Vernon Griffiths. Song for Boys, under 16; own selection. Ray Gibson, 86 points, 1; Brian Parke, 85, 2; Bobby Cornish, 84, 3. Very highly commended: Jack Geddes. Highly commended: John Cornish, Billy Mason. Commended: Raymond Croot. Twelve competitors. Solo, girls, 16-19; own selection. Miss June Lee, 87 points, 1; Miss Marie Hall, 86, 2; Miss Lorna Pile, 85, 3. Very highly commended; Misses Betty Payne (Waikouaiti), Patricia Beauchamp. Highly commended; Misses Doreen Scott, Helen K. Johnson (Gore), Dorothy Mutch (Mosgiel). Commended. Misses Elaine Cooper (Oamaru), Phyllis Thomson (Winton), Irene Naismith, Zolda Osborne. Twenty competitors. This was a very good class, said the judge, and there was some delightful singing. The three placed competitors all gave him fine work. ELOCUTION. Judge: Mr Errol Muir. Character Sketch, open, own selection; 120 points.—Miss Margaret Ufton, 99 points, 1; Miss Billie Loan, 97, 2; Miss Elsie Kirkham, 92, 3. Six competitors. Girls’ Elocution Scholarship, 12-16, test and own selection. (Mr J. H. Walker’s scholarship, valued £5 ss).—Mary Hopewell (Christchurch), 164 points, 1; Yvonne Finnerty, 163, 2; Alma McAllan, 162, 3. Very highly commended; Winnie Sanderson, Audrey Eady (Christchurch), Glenna Smith, May Mutimer, Shirley Miller (Christchurch), Peggy Johnson. Highly commended: Mavis Sloper, Christina Peacock, Patricia Campbell (Milton), N. Johnson, Eunice Morris (Milton), Nola Sutherland. Twenty-eight competitors. This was an exceptionally good section, said the judge, and there was not one bad performance. The standard of selection was excellent. So far as the three placed competitors were concerned, they gained equal marks in the test, and it was a close contest in the own selection, making it difficult to separate the three. The winner, however, showed exceptional dramatic ability for one so young. Her voice control was very good, and Mr Muir considered that she should go far. The second and third competitors gave delightful renderings of their respective selections. DANCING. Judge: Miss Kathleen Mathews. Demi-character Dance, 13-16. Joan Lunam, 82 points, 1; Evelyn Butterworth, 81, 2; Beta Cook, 78. 3. Highly commended; Ngaire Whifcombo. Six competitors. Ballet Dance, operatic, 10-13.—Olga Rowland, 83 points, 1; Colleen Finlin, 81, 2; Maureen M. Keenan, 79, 3. Very bigbly commended; Valerie Fox (Invercargill). Helen Fraser, Shirley M. Harvey (Browns). Highly commended : Marie More. Lois Pope, Buie More. Lorna Prattley. Sixteen competitors. INSTRUMENTAL. Judge; Dr T. Vernon Griffiths. Piano Duo, two pianos, four hands, open, * Noel.’—Misses Vera Patterson and Lorna McDonald (Oamaru), 83 points, 1; Miss Phyllis Manson and Mr James W. Dixon, 79, 2; Misses Joan Woods and Marjorie Holdaway. The only competitors. In the sight-reading lest, under 14, held yesterday morning, (lie name of Lorraine Pister, highly commended, should have read Lorraine Potter.