CHOIR IN THE ABBEY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 128, 16 June 1937, Page 7

CHOIR IN THE ABBEY

— Own Correspondent) .

Advance Rehearsals Held DOMINION MEMBERS

(By Air Mail.-

LONDON, May 15. * The choir at Westminster Abbey numbered 500 voices, and the orchestra totalled 60 instrumentalists. All the leading church choirs, including Westminster, St. Paul's, York Minster, Oanterbury Cathedral, Windsor, Chapel Royal (St. James') and St. Martin-in-the-Fields were represented. In addition, there were a number of the leading vocalists of the day, among them being Mr. Walter Widdop, Mr. John Coates and Mr. Hafbld Williams. Dr. Ernest Bullock was at the organ and Sir Adrian Boult conducted. Canada had 20 representative sinkers, Australia had four. New Zealand had five, namely: Mr. Hubert CaTter, Mr. Gordon Fagan, Mr. Dennis Dowling, Miss Christina' Young and Miss Merle Miller. Miss Miller toolc the place of Madame Winifred Praser, who, apparently, was not in England. Mr. Malcolm Miller was one of the choristers chosen from the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral — both he and his sister were pupils in New Zealand of Mr. Hubert Carter. The choir assembled in advafice for seven rehearsals. Last Sunday the New Zealanders were invited to sing at St., Paul 's, where they took part in the National Anthem, There were no official vocal representatives from South Afriea or the Irish Free State. At the Coronation service, the ladies in the choir, as well as a few in tho orchestra, woro white evening dresses with long veils of white lace,