AUCKLAND FESTIVAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 798, 19 October 1929, Page 11

AUCKLAND FESTIVAL

GROWING POPULARITY LARGE ATTENDANCE TODAY Larger attendances yesterday and today at tho Lewis Eady Hall testified to the growing popularity of the Auckland Competitions Society’s fourth annual festival. At each session the estimate of receipts has been exceeded. Last evening there was a particularly good attendance and a well-varied programme of a good standard was received with appreciation. Particularly well received were the operatic, Eastern and character dances and songs in character, the audience exhibiting a decided preference for items m costume or enacted. Stating that on the whole she found the classes interesting Madame Grace Griffiths, judge of the instrumental section, said she would like to see more public interest shown. A lack of expression and neglect of the pedal were the chief faults encountered in • the pianoforte classes. Special mention was made of the particularly fine performance given by Miss Moya CooperSmith in the violin solo (16 to 18). The piece chosen was “Hungarian Dance” No. 5 (Brahms-Hubay). Although she won the class outright in the afternoon the judge asked her to repeat the performance in the evening for the benefit of the audience. Regret that there were not more men taking part in the elocutionary division was expressed by the judge, Mr. J. W. Bailey. He considered that the children’s classes had been very good, particularly the character work. The general fault with most competitors was that their work was overstudied, and the technicalities were too obvious. Mr. Lance Craig said tho performances had been very pleasing. The oratorio solo for tenors had revealed some fine efforts, and the work in the contralto solo was also of a high standard. Results were: OPERATIC DANCE (Children under 9.) Athalie McCarr, St. Tleliers Bay, and Patricia Boyle, Herne Bay 1 •‘Very charming performances,” said , the judge. The winners showed considerabfcl promise and had danced well. CLASSIC OR EASTERN DANCE (13 or over) Miss Edna Tullet, Mt. Roskill, 87 Elodie Crook, Grey Lynn, 74 .. .. 2 Joy Simon, Remuera, 72 3 The judge said she enjoyed this class very much and considered it was the best she had seen at the present festival. TEST RECITATION (Gentlemen) “Tell’s Speech” (Knowles) Mr. Thomas Vivian, Grey Lynn .. 1 Mr. Thomas G. Moorcraft, Ponsonby 2 A well-contested class, in the opinion of the judge, who said that in each case the performance was good. Although there were only two entrants, first and second prizes were awarded on account of the high standard of the work.

VIOLIN SOLO (Children under 11) Clive Harris, Eden Terrace, 81 points 1 Jack Diggle, Eden Terrace* 74 .. 2 TEST RECITATION (Boys 12 to 14) Ernest Moncrieff, Pukekohe, 82 points 1 Jack Ferris. Onehunga, SO 2 Although the. class was very small, the performances were good, said the judge. The competitors spoke clearly, but. there was a tendency toward over-emphasis. ORATORIO SOLO (Tenor). Mr. George Lawson (Hikurangi), 151 points 1 Mr. Thomas S. Mollitt (Westrnere), 149 2 Highly Commended.—Mr. J. Cautlay (Mount Albert). The quality of the work in this section was very fair, said the judge. Some competitors chose work well beyond their reach, but he liked to see them ambitious. SONG IN CHARACTER (Children Under 12) Doreen Atkins (Remuera), and Patricia Boyle (Herne Bay), 141 points 1 Joyce Howland, 13S 3 In this case the winning competitors gave better performances in the evening, according to the judge. PIANOFORTE DUET (Children Under 12). Hazel McChesney and Joan Philpolt (One Tree Hill), SO points 1 Edna Rainey and Lorna Frith (Dcvport), 74 2 Nancy Herring and Joan Plant (Grey Lynn) S The judge said that competitors in this class showed promise, although there was a lack of expression, and use of the pedal common in all the pianoforte work. SACRED SONG (Ladies). Miss Cecilia Pringle (Parnell), 155 points 1 Miss Doris Moore (Mount Eden), 154 2 Miss Phyllis Johnson (Northcote), 152 3 The judge said this was the finest class he had heard so far, and all the competitors did well, there being little between the winners. CHARACTER RECITAL (Children Under 16). Nola Wilson (Mount Eden), 300 points 3 Kathleen Boyle (Herne Bay), 99 .. 2 Patty Gilmour (Grey Lynn), 97 3 Highly Commended.—Olive Martin (Grafton). Harry Wakelin (Remuera), Loloma Kay (Ponsonby), Naiacy Noy (Grafton), Zelma Spry (Dominion Road), Tuene Grantley (St. Heliers Bay), Gladys Cain (Point Chevalier). The judge said that some very good performances were given, but. the work was better in the afternoon than in the evening.

PIANOFORTE SOLO (Children 14 to 16.) Phyllis Purchase (Ponsonby), ISO points l Richard Walton (Mount Albert) and Edna McCarty (Herne Bay), 170 2 “A very nice; performance,” said the judge, concerning this class. CHARACTER DANCE (Children 9 and under 17). Eloh Rae Parr (Auckland), 76 points 1 Joy Hodder (Auckland), 70 2 Joyce Clark (Edendale), 68 3 The judge said the winner danced in a charming manner, and her costume was well chosen. MODERN POPULAR SONG (Children under 16). Desmond Casey (Birkdale), SO points 1 Rena Oeddes (Mount Eden). 7S .. .. 2 Highly Commended. —Kathleen Boyle (Herne Bay) and X. June Morris (Epsom). The judge said there were some very fine performances in this class, and the winner had a very sweet and true voice. SKIPPING DANCE (13 to 16). Edna Tullett (Mount Roskill), 72 points l Joy Simon (Auckland), 65 2 “This was a very poor class,” said the judge. “There was no outstanding performance.” HUMOROUS RECITAL WITH MUSICAL ACCOMPANIM ENT Misses Thelma Clarke (Kingsland) and Miss Edna Thomas (Epsom), SO points i Misses Hilda Morse (Auckland) and ( Rona Bpeed (Mount Eden), 79 .. 2 j The pieces undertaken were much alike. I but were well done, said the judge. It j was difficult to decide the class.

CONTRALTO SOLO (“Meadowsweet,” Brake-Enoch). Miss Doris Moore (Mount Eden), SO points ] Miss Alice Browne (Dev on port), 77 . . 2 Highly Commended. —Miss Greta Munroe (Grafton). The judge said there were some very line performances, and the quality of the voices was good. TODAY’S RESULTS RECALLS FOR EVENING SESSION Children’s classes mostly occupied j the attention of the judges at the | Lewis Eady Hall this morning. For ; the most part the work was of a good j standard and interesting classes re- j suited. In the early part of the afternoon, the baritone solo (Brett’s “Horses of the Dawn”), national song (soprano or mezzo) song and accompaniment, and pianoforte solo (16 and under 19) provided a pleasing variety of entertainment. This evening another interesting j session should result when the picked ! competitors from the day session will | bo recalled for final placing. In addi- j tion there will be a mouth organ con- I test, impromptu speech and a combined I ballet. Results at today's session are:— i SONG (Children under 12). Recalled.—lvan Dunn (Northcote), Patricia Walton (Mount Albert), Doreen ! Atkins (Remuera), Joy Ladder (Auckland). PIANOFORTE SOLO (12 to 14) Recalled: Noni Morland (Remuera), ! Patricia Delvin (Grey Lynn), Helene Cooper (Grey Lynn), Erin Power (Grey Lynn), Joyce Smith (Herne Bay). SIGHT READING (Standard 3 and under). Hope Dulihanty (Papatoetoe) 3 Patricia Boyle (Herne Bay) and Harvey Blanks (Bayfield) 2 Ngaire Tewen (Auckland), Shirley Thomson (Mount Eden) and Olive Blackie <Bayfield), tie 3 TEST RECITATION (Girls under 16). Recalled: Ethnc Wilson (Avondale), j Rosalie Daniels (Mount Eden), Audrey j Ivil (Narrow Neck), Cassie Gribble (Mount Eden), Honor Sim (Pukekohe). j BARITONE SOLO Recalled: Messrs. W. Kerr (Te Papapa), L. Kernott (Papakura), F. Munroe (Mount Roskill). CHARACTER DIALOGUJ2 (Children under 16) Recalled: K. Boyle and G. Cain (Grannie’s Picture), M. Young and Stella Lees (J.uliet and the Nurse), N. Noy and P. Gilmour (Hamlet and Ophelia). Highly commended: M. Wilson, E. Wilson, H. Gavey and H. Wakelin. NATIONAL SONG Ladies. Own Selections. Mrs. C. Gannaway (Napier), Mrs. Reppel (Auckland), Miss D. Moore (Mount Eden). .Highly commended: Miss C. Pringle (Parnell). Special commendation was accorded Mrs. A. Wood (Paeroa).