A SURPRISE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1933, Page 6

A SURPRISE

AT WELLINGTON COMPETITIONS REGARDING N.Z. AUTHORSHIP WELLINTON; August 29. One of the classes of the Wellington Competitions Festival is the ladies’ vocal solo, New Zealand composer. There were twenty-six competitors in the event, and three or four who chose songs by Charles Willeby were astonished when they were informed by the judge (Dr Cyril Jenkins) that Mr Willeby was not a New Zealand composer but an American.

Mr Willeby had been accepted by the society as a New Zealand comand two of’ his compositions were sung, “Summer Rain” and “Stolen Wings.”

One competitor said that her teacher ! had. informed her that Charles Wil- ’ leby was born, in Dunedin and lived in New Zealand until he was about 20 years of age, when he went to London. A further statement was to the effect that Charles Willeby was born in Dunedin and worked in a.shop in Wellington for some time. It was contended that his works should be accented by the judge. Mr Jenkins said that it was rather now to him to find an American name figuring on the list of New Zealand j composers. It was the first time that ho had heard that Charles ' Willeby | was a- New Zealander. It had been a pleasure to hear some of the charms of one New Zealand composer, Alfred Hill. A NEW ZEALANDER,” HALE-BROTHER’S assertion WELLINGTON, August 29. Mr 'S. P. Hawthorne, of Wellington, 1 who i 9 a half-brother of Mr Charles J Willeby, the composer, . says that Mr

Wileby was born in Franco and'came to New Zealand when he was about five years old. About five years later bo went to England, and returned to New Zealand in 1885 with his mother" Airs Stuart Hawthorne, and two half-broth-ers. He was well known in Wellington as a music teacher. Ho married Miss Mary Hume, of Dunedin, and about 1889 went to Italy, and had never been back to NV,v Zealand.