HELPING THE ARTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 127, 19 August 1927, Page 1

HELPING THE ARTS

AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS RECORD entries this year Claiming that entries this year make a Dominion record, the Auckland Competitions Society is hopeful of a successful festival, beginning on Monday. There are 2,560 entries in the elocutionary, musical and literary sections, and approximately 3,000 performers for no less than 33 choirs will compete in the grand contest on Tuesday, August 30. Twenty-five schools and eight churches have entered for this, the tital number of singers being about 1,500. Xo other centre in New Zealand has been able to attract such an array of choirs in a competition. In the past the forensic side of the competitions has been rather neglected, but this year wit should sparkle in the

debate and impromptu speech, which classes have attracted University men and other skilled wielders of epigram and shapers of periods. The elocutionary classes, especially the junior ones, are very strong and the vocal championships will give the judge a great deal of work. Compteitors come from as far South as Christchurch and

Dunedin. "The competitions festival is an essential community movement,” said Mr. Frank Adeane, the secretary, yesterday. “Its object is to encourage those arts which make for rational home life and better citizenship. We believe that by encouraging the child to study we ensure that the citizens of the next decade wifi speak good English and that the public men will be well versed in public speaking. “Our society, by its festivals and by offering scholarships and prizes, fills a place in the educational life of the community for which the schools, with their crowded syllabus, cannot provide.” • The judges for the festival will address competitors and teachers at 10.30 on Monday, and the competitions will start at 2 o’clock. The official opening at 7.30 will be performed by the Hon. George Fowlds, the only life member of the society, and from then till September 3 the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall a 1 d the Unity Hall will bo used almost continuosly. The judges are: Elocutionary classes: Mr. Harry Borodale, of Brisbane, who was formerly elocutionary champion of the Dominion. He was well known in the theatrical profession afterwards. Music: Mr. Fred. W. Slater, who has recently settled in Wanganui, was a vocal specialist in North Wales, and a judge at the Eisteddfod. Dancing: Madame Eugenie Dennis, dancing teacher, of Wellington, and formerly of London and Paris. Literary: The Rev. J. W. Shaw, M.A., principal of the Teachers’ Training College and a well-known literateur.